As such, the Taoiseach is thereafter at the mercy of the Fianna Fáil leader when it comes to the continuation of his administration. There is now a very real question as to whether the Government can command a Dáil majority – even if Fianna Fáil continues to abstain. With exquisite timing the independently-minded Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness told the Dáil on Thursday that he would vote against any future confidence motion. You do the math, as the Americans say: the Government had a majority of three on Tuesday night with Fianna Fáil abstaining. The whiff of complacency around the Cabinet also rather ignores one of the obvious facts around this administration – it is flat out of energy, purpose and mission.

Source: The Irish Times December 07, 2019 06:00 UTC