No 'breakaway' Fianna Fáil votes supporting no confidence motion in Harris
Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson on Brexit Lisa Chamber is “100% sure” that there will be no “breakaway” Fianna Fáil votes supporting Sinn Féin’s no confidence in Minister for Health Simon Harris.
She accused Sinn Féin of “playing into the hands of the hardline Brexiteers” and told RTE’s Today with Sean O’Rourke show that there was “an element of national sabotage” in the actions on Sinn Féin.
However, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said that the language of Fianna Fáil “shows desperation” and they were “still protecting Simon Harris.
“I don’t accept that there would be a general election because there would be a breach in the confidence and supply agreement. The only person who can call a general election is Leo Varadkar. Fine Gael are taking them for fools.”
Ms Chambers said that the only ones “reacting in desperation” are Sinn Féin who are “grasping headlines” and are not interested in putting the country first.
“If we voted no confidence it would breach the confidence and supply agreement. Our view is this is not the right time for the country.
We’re not saying Simon Harris is doing a good job. But now is not the time to pre-empt a general election 37 days from Brexit.
She said she was not going to pretend that she or other members of the party were happy with the confidence and supply agreement.
“We want to see a change of government, a Fianna Fáil led government, but we have to put the country first.”
Ms Chambers called on Sinn Féin to put politics aside and to instead put the country first.
