FG rumblings over ‘alliance’ with SF

SOME Fine Gael TDs are unhappy with their ‘alliance of inconvenience’ with Sinn Féin over the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. Fianna Fáil’s refusal to support the Bill means that Fine Gael is now dependent on Sinn Féin and the far-left Solidarity to secure the passage of the controversial Bill. Fianna Fáil has been quick to seize upon the embarrassment factor for Fine Gael, with Willie O’Dea noting: ‘This isn’t going down at all well with the Fine Gael blue-rinse brigade.’

Within Fine Gael, unhappiness is accelerating over the curious entente cordiale. One TD warned: ‘It is bad enough that we are in bed with Shane Ross – but Sinn Féin too? The lads in the constituency are not too happy.’

Another TD said: ‘The clowns in the Seanad have gotten dug into it now; we will never get it through. It really would be better if the thing collapsed.’

A TD warned: ‘These strange bedfellows are sacrificing our reputation as a party of law and order to keep Ross and the Provos sweet. ‘The core Fine Gael vote is unhappy. ‘Fine Gael is not about supporting Sinn Féin over the judiciary – or at least it used not to be. Leo is going to have to grab a hold of this issue fast.’