Deputy PM agrees to resign to avoid polls

DUBLIN: Ireland’s scandal-hit deputy prime minister resigned on Tuesday, a move that is likely to avert a government collapse and snap election that could have threatened crucial Brexit negotiations between Britain and the European Union.

A government source confirmed reports that Frances Fitzgerald would step down, as demanded by opposition parties after the release of documents about her disputed handling of a police whistleblower who alleged corruption in the force.

Fianna Fail, the main opposition party that props up Indianorigin Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s minority government, said her resignation should mean a December election would be avoided. It had warned it might force a snap poll if Fitzgerald refused to quit.

Ireland’s political crisis emerged in the run-up to a key Brexit summit next month at which Varadkar is set to play a major role. He must tell fellow EU leaders whether he believes sufficient progress has been made on the future of the border between Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland.

The border -- the only land frontier between Britain and the EU -- is one of three issues Brussels wants broadly resolved before it decides whether to move talks on Britain’s divorce from the EU onto a second phase about trade, as Britain wants.

While Varadkar avoided the prospect of having to travel to Brussels in a caretaker capacity, his handling of the crisis has damaged his governing Fine Gael party and relations with its Fianna Fail opponents.REUTERS