BIG WIN FOR FIANNA FÁIL... BUT PARTY INSISTS: ‘THERE WILL BE NO CHEERING’

FIANNA FÁIL members were determined to present a grave and sober face yesterday after the party achieved its biggest victory of the 32nd Dáil.

Dara Calleary, the party’s public expenditure spokesman, said: ‘There will be no cheering.’

This was an apparent reference to the whooping and applause from some Fianna Fáil TDs in the Dáil bar that reportedly greeted the announcement by Justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan on RTÉ’s Six One News last week that the party was slapping down a motion of no confidence in Frances Fitzgerald.

Fianna Fáil deputies in the chamber did not heckle during the announcement that the political axe had fallen.

And there was no hint of triumphalism as party leader Micheál Martin rose on Leaders’ Questions.

He said: ‘I acknowledge that this is a difficult day for the Taoiseach and his colleagues, particularly Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. Everyone accepts that.’

He said of the former tánaiste, who was not in the chamber: ‘She took the right decision... given recent revelations and the best interests of the country.’

Fianna Fáil spokesman on Finance Michael McGrath insisted: ‘For us, this has always been about securing political accountability’.

He added that it was also ‘addressing dysfunctionality in the Department of Justice’.

He added: ‘Politicians now need to put as their first priority the Brexit summit in December and of course the key issues of housing and homelessness.’