Having topped the poll there in 2011, when Fine Gael won two seats, to finishing fourth in a by-election is a stark reversal of fortune. But even before the dust had settled on the weekend washout, Fine Gael was immediately forced to confront the motion of no-confidence in Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy. The Government survived by 56 votes to 53, with 35 Fianna Fáil abstentions, but it was a bruising battle. As the walk-through vote concluded, the housing minister stood alone for several minutes on the Government benches, looking deflated and weary. A year ago, he held a 10-point lead on Fianna Fáil and was virtually certain of holding on to power.

Source: Irish Examiner December 06, 2019 20:59 UTC