Fianna Fáil’s supply of confidence running low

Fianna Fáil’s backbenchers are losing patience with its deal with Fine Gael, and there was plenty of election talk at yesterday’s ard fheis

Micheál Martin: facing rumblings of discontent in Fianna Fáil’s ranks Picture: PA

Simon Harris’s failure to tell Fianna Fáil about the spiralling cost overruns on the National Children’s Hospital (NCH) last September was a clear breach of the confidence-and-supply agreement, which stipulates that there should be “an open approach to avoiding policy surprises”.

When Frances Fitzgerald became embroiled in controversy over who knew what and when about matters relating to Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe in November 2017, Fianna Fáil sought her resignation as tánaiste. The ...