Ireland’s government is marred by political chaos as a scandal involving the deputy prime minister threatens to bring the government down plunging the nation into unpopular elections.
Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, has resisted growing calls to quit.
The motion of no confidence by Sinn Fein questions Ms Fitzgerald’s handling of a 2015 email surrounding a police whistleblower during her time as justice minister – she allegedly attempted to discredit the whistleblower.
The email has raised questions over Mrs Fitzgerald’s denials, a year later, that she knew nothing of the contentious legal strategy deployed by the Garda to question the motives of Mr McCabe during a 2015 tribunal that examined his claims of police malpractice.
The controversy took another twist on Sunday when it emerged that the then Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan had discussed the strategy in a phone call with a senior Department of Justice official while the tribunal was still ongoing.
The revelation raised further questions about the extent of contact about the matter between the Garda and the Department of Justice at the time.
If the Dail is dissolved, Fine Gael Taoiseach Leo Varadkar would be reduced to the role of caretaker Taoiseach when he travels to Brussels for the summit.
The seemingly impending vote of no confidence brings in the prospect of a pre-Christmas snap election taking place.
Mr Varadkar has backed his deputy despite a fresh batch of emails potentially deepening the crisis emerging yesterday.
The Irish government is made up of the minority Fine Gael administration with the support of opposition Fianna Fail in key votes.
The two were locked in talks until the late hours of Monday evening with reports claiming an end was called at 11:15pm – discussions are set to continue this morning.
Unless either administration decides to back down on the controversy surrounding Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, the country is predicted to be heading to the polls.
Professor Gail McElroy of Trinity College Dublin stated that the prospect of a snap election next month is the “worst time” for the country to be voting.
She said: “There is no appetite for a pre-Christmas election.
“Members of Parliament were going back to their constituencies this weekend and people were very vocal about not wanting an election.”
She also told BBC Newsnight: “Especially December 19th or 20th, can you think of a worse time for an election?”
She also stated that to compound the country’s problems, Ireland will also “suffer” when the UK leaves the EU in 2019.
She added: “Ireland’s economy is deeply linked to that of the United Kingdom and we are deeply concerned that, bearing no responsibility for the UK removing itself from the European Union, that we are going to suffer.
“And may indeed suffer a great deal more than the United Kingdom in terms of economic growth.
“People are deeply concerned about Brexit, Irish people on the ground are very alarmed about what is happening on the border and for the economy.”
The crisis has erupted at a time when Ireland’s stance on Brexit – in particular its call for Northern Ireland to adhere to an EU customs framework – is threatening to thwart the UK government’s desire to progress negotiations with Europe on to a future trade deal.