Irish government on verge of collapse ahead of EU Brexit summit
Frances Fitzgerald
Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland Leo Varadkar speaks on stage during his opening address of the Fine Gael national party conference in Ballyconnell  Ireland November 10  2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
That would break the three-year “confidence and supply” agreement that allowed Varadkar’s Fine Gael party to form a minority government 18 months ago.
Fianna Fail initially indicated it might withdraw its threat if Fitzgerald resigned but Fine Gael members of parliament passed a unanimous motion of support in Fitzgerald at an emergency meeting on Thursday evening.
Asked after Fine Gael’s statement whether the country was headed for an election  a senior Fianna Fail source replied: “Straight towards one.”
“This is ... dangerous politically at a time when the country does not need an election ”  Foreign Minister Simon Coveney of Fine Gael  told national Irish broadcaster RTE  in an apparent reference to the Brexit talks  he  had earlier described as a “historic moment” for the island of Ireland.
The Fianna Fail move comes after Fitzgerald admitted she was made aware of an attempt to discredit a police whistleblower in a 2015 email  but failed to act. Fine Gael say she adhered to due process.
Since Varadkar’s appointment as Fine Gael leader in May  his party has narrowly led Fianna Fail in opinion polls that suggest both parties would increase their support but still struggle to form anything but another minority government.
Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland Leo Varadkar speaks on stage during his opening address of the Fine Gael national party conference in Ballyconnell  Ireland November 10  2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
That would break the three-year “confidence and supply” agreement that allowed Varadkar’s Fine Gael party to form a minority government 18 months ago.
Fianna Fail initially indicated it might withdraw its threat if [TGT] resigned but Fine Gael members of parliament passed a unanimous motion of support in [TGT] at an emergency meeting on Thursday evening.
Asked after Fine Gael’s statement whether the country was headed for an election  a senior Fianna Fail source replied: “Straight towards one.”
“This is ... dangerous politically at a time when the country does not need an election ”  Foreign Minister Simon Coveney of Fine Gael  told national Irish broadcaster RTE  in an apparent reference to the Brexit talks  he  had earlier described as a “historic moment” for the island of Ireland.
The Fianna Fail move comes after [TGT] admitted [TGT] was made aware of an attempt to discredit a police whistleblower in a 2015 email  but failed to act. Fine Gael say [TGT] adhered to due process.
Since Varadkar’s appointment as Fine Gael leader in May  his party has narrowly led Fianna Fail in opinion polls that suggest both parties would increase their support but still struggle to form anything but another minority government.