FF and Sinn Féin ‘unite’ in threat to Brexit talks
Taoiseach claims Government collapse would be fault of others
FIANNA Fáil and Sinn Féin have “come together” to threaten the country’s standing in the Brexit talks at a crucial moment.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has claimed if the Government collapses it will be the fault of the two Opposition parties who want “the decapitation of the Tánaiste based on the trumped up charges”.
Fine Gael ministers have been told to highlight the fact Micheál Martin and Gerry Adams are pursuing the same goal at a critical moment in history.
If a stand-off between the Government and Fianna Fáil is not resolved by next Tuesday, it means Mr Varadkar will travel to the key Brexit meeting as a caretaker Taoiseach. Both sides have publicly argued that this would not affect Ireland’s approach to the talks but privately admit it weakens our position.
According to well-placed sources, the meeting between Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin yesterday was “more civil than some previous ones” but ultimately made zero progress.
Having failed to convince Mr Varadkar to ask his deputy to step down, Fianna Fáil is expected to now turn up the pressure on Frances Fitzgerald to offer her resignation.
She continues to argue that she acted appropriately at all times when dealing with whistleblowers, and could not have intervened on foot of an email to stop then-Garda commissioner Noirin O’Sulllivan’s legal team adopting an aggressive legal approach at the O’Higgins Commission in 2015.
But Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesman Michael McGrath said the Tánaiste “has a hugely important personal decision to make”.
“If the Taoiseach isn’t going to ask her to resign, it’s a decision she’ll have to make herself and it will have national consequences,” he said.
The Taoiseach put up a strong defence of the embattled Tánaiste last night, saying he would not be “throwing a good woman under the bus for political expediency to save myself and my government”.
On RTÉ’s ‘Six One News’, Mr Varadkar described the case against Ms Fitzgerald as “flimsy”. And acknowledging that stance was moving the country
closer to an election, he said: “If there is an election before Christmas it’ll be because Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin came together.”
But Independent Alliance Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran also told reporters at Leinster House that two Opposition parties were merely trying to set up their own government.
“Look at the papers from last week – you had people from Fianna Fáil looking to go into government with Sinn Féin. Now they’re pushing for that and they put pressure on Micheál Martin here today.
“We are on the brink of a Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin new policy document, new government. Is this what they are planning? This is wrong,” he said.
Senior Fianna Fáil sources told the Irish Independent this was “bullsh*t”.
Mr Varadkar’s hand was strengthened by the fulsome committal from the Independent ministers in Government who met with him in Government Buildings to discuss the crisis last night.
Transport Minister Shane Ross raised concerns that the country was being forced into a “needless and costly general election”.
Despite all sides saying they want to avoid a general election, massive efforts are being made behind the scenes to prepare for one.
Fianna Fáil has already held a substantial number of selection conventions around the country and is well positioned to launch an early campaign.
Fine Gael has only formally selected candidates in Dublin Rathdown, Dublin North West and Longford/Westmeath. Its national executive is to fasttrack conventions nationwide.
Sinn Féin confirmed yesterday that Mary Lou McDonald will lead its election campaign in the wake of Gerry Adams’s decision not to put his name forward in Louth.
Labour leader Brendan How- lin said his party is “election ready”.
The Irish Independent understands that Mr Martin was warned by a number of his TDs of the risks of going to the polls on the issue of the email.
TDs emphasised that the email controversy would be a “hard sell” – but Mr Martin insisted the party should publicly draw on the fact that Sgt Maurice McCabe had been let downbytheState.
Galway West TD Eamon Ó Cúiv criticised the party’s approach, saying that the public is more concerned about issues such as traffic and housing.
Mr Martin said he had initiated contact with Mr Varadkar this week but he did not respond in a satisfactory manner.
He said his party is preparing for an immediate election before Christmas, adding that he cannot express confidence in Ms Fitzgerald.