Leo’s Government can still limp on . . .

LEO Varadkar now has a glaring absence of a working majority in the Dáil after the departure of Denis Naughten.

But in this strange zombie chamber, his minority Fine Gael administration can still limp on once it receives the acquiescence of Fianna Fáil, or at least its abstention on key votes.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin promised the night before yesterday’s seismic events that his party would see the Budget through on its legislative implementation through the Oireachtas which will take until Christmas.

But the reality is that the Government’s credibility and its own confidence have both taken a knock. Any further blow to the Government, now tottering, could now see it dramatically collapse – despite all the stress being laid on avoiding a needless election against the imminent background of Brexit.

There are 158 seats in the Dáil, meaning that 79 votes are needed in a full House, where the Ceann Comhairle reduces the number of active votes to 157. In reality, far fewer votes are normally needed, with Fianna Fáil’s 44 votes in confidence and supply a significant cushion to Fine Gael’s currently total of 49 TDs.

A total of 57 Government votes (with FF’s 44 sitting on the fence) would prevail against 56 votes mustered by all others.

This means that Fine Gael effectively needs eight votes to add to its own parliamentary total.