Political year in review: 12 months of political upheaval but defined by ‘Grace’ and Brexit

Enda Kenny bowed out as Gerry Adams made plans to follow, all amid myriad scandals from banks to whistleblowers. It was a tumultuous year, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell

Political year in review: 12 months of political upheaval but defined by ‘Grace’ and Brexit

Enda Kenny bowed out as Gerry Adams made plans to follow, all amid myriad scandals from banks to whistleblowers. It was a tumultuous year, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell

At the end of a truly turbulent year in Irish politics, we have seen a new generation take the reins of the country, a major Brexit hurdle successfully overcome, and a shock general election averted at the last minute. Here are just some of the major moments of 2017 which dominated the news agenda.

Martin McGuinness

From gunman to statesman, the death of James Martin Pacelli McGuinness at the age of 66 was one of the major political events of 2017.

The sight and sound of a visibly frail Martin McGuinness on our TV screens early in the new year as he resigned as deputy first minister on January 9 signalled he was not long for this world.

Blaming ‘DUP arrogance’ over the ‘Cash for Ash’ scandal, McGuinness said his health was not the reason for his decision to resign.

But his poor condition was clearly a factor as he announced 10 days later that he would not be standing for election again.

Addressing supporters that night on the Bogside in Derry, he said it “breaks my heart” that he would no longer be able to represent the people of his native city.

“My heart lies in the Bogside with the people of Derry,” he said.

On March 21 it was announced McGuinness had died in Altnagelvin Area Hospital with the cause of death identified as amyloidosis — a group of rare conditions caused by deposits of abnormal protein, amyloid — in tissues and organs throughout the body.

Eleven months on from his resignation, the Northern executive remains unestablished with the threat of

direct rule looming large.

McGuinness died without his dream of a united Ireland being fulfilled during his tenure. But his contribution to peace on this island will be long remembered.

Donnelly joins Fianna Fáil

On February 2, Stephen Donnelly, the Independent TD for Wicklow and founder of the Social Democrats, joined Fianna Fáil.

Having been a fierce critic of the party, Donnelly was given responsibility for Brexit on Fianna Fáil’s front bench, much to the displeasure of several TDs.

Donnelly, who was elected as an Independent TD in 2011, founded the Social Democrats in 2015 and was re-elected to the Dáil as a Social Democrats TD in 2016.

Enda’s mea culpa

The year began as if Enda Kenny would go on and on and on.

Then came a fresh scandal involving Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe and his maltreatment by organs of the State in February.

During a routine interview on RTÉ’s This Week programme, Kenny said that Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone told him before the Cabinet meeting that she had met Sergeant McCabe and had discussed false allegations about him related to Tusla, the child and family agency.

It turned out that the conversation had never taken place and Zappone, who had been abroad, came home to insist the record be corrected.

A humbled Kenny informed the Dáil he had given inaccurate information. “I might say ‘mea culpa’ here, because I did say, and I’m guilty here of not giving accurate information,” he told the Dáil.

“It actually was her office that consulted with my officials, who told me.

“She is very clear that she did not tell me that she intended to meet Sgt McCabe, but she did tell her official to tell my office, so I regret that. She didn’t tell me herself that she was meeting Sgt McCabe.

“She did tell me before the Cabinet meeting last Tuesday that she had met with him and they had discussed allegations that were false in respect of what had been given to Tusla.”

McCabe gets tribunal

Maurice McCabe has haunted Fine Gael since he first emerged as a whistle-blower and once again, at the start of the year, he found himself at the heart of another political crisis.

Following revelations in this newspaper, where it emerged McCabe was falsely the subject of sex-abuse allegations contained in Tusla files, the Government agreed the terms of reference for a tribunal, after McCabe rejected another private inquiry.

It emerged that a former Garda press officer, Superintendent David Taylor, said he was instructed by senior management to destroy the reputation of McCabe.

The Disclosures Tribunal was established under Justice Peter Charleton and its hearings are continuing.

More about McCabe anon.

Enda’s long goodbye

The phantom Zappone conversation heightened the pressure, from his own nervy backbenches, on Enda Kenny to announce his departure.

Severely wounded since his disastrous 2016 general election, Kenny had run out of road, it seemed, and the two main pretenders to the crown, Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar, began circling.

Under the looming threat of a motion of no confidence, on February 22, Kenny told his parliamentary party that he would deal with the question of his leadership “effectively and conclusively” after he returned from his St Patrick’s Day trip to Washington, DC.

His US trip came and went, as did several other highly important jaunts around Europe; it appeared Kenny was using Brexit to prolong his exit route.

By May, the situation had become somewhat farcical and Kenny did not take kindly to being asked about his departure by this reporter in Canada in front of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“I can’t believe you travelled this distance to ask a question like that. I’ve come here to speak to the Canadian Prime Minister and Canadian business about opportunities that exist across the Atlantic for the creation of jobs and investment to the benefit of Canadians and Irish people to discuss the opportunities for Canada and Europe, to discuss the opportunities for Ireland and Canada with the United States. That’s my business here,” Kenny told me.

“I just said to you Daniel, I can’t believe you travelled this distance to ask that question.”

It wasn’t until Wednesday, May 17, that an emotional Enda Kenny officially announced his “retirement” as Fine Gael leader in a four-minute speech to TDs and senators after three months of delay.

Kenny confirmed he would step down as party leader, in a move that marked the official starting gun for the long-awaited race to replace him as Taoiseach.

In his statement to Fine Gael’s weekly parliamentary party meeting at around 4.30pm, having been brought forward by two hours, at short notice, at his request, Kenny said the time had come for him to depart.

Describing his resignation as leader as a “retirement”, Kenny said he would officially leave from midnight but would stay on “in an acting capacity” until a new leader was elected on Friday, June 2 — exactly 15 years to the day since he was appointed leader in 2002.

Simon vs Leo

It was always going to be a two-horse race to succeed Enda Kenny. Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney went toe to toe after Paschal Donohoe ruled himself out and Simon Harris and Frances Fitzgerald realised they hadn’t a chance.

“Shock and awe” was how we described Varadkar’s opening 24 hours of the campaign in which TDs and senators rushed to declare their support for him, with Harris the only senior Cabinet minister to back the Cork Merchant Prince.

By the time Donohoe brought Varadkar to Leo Street to announce his support, along with cakes and coffee to charm the media, it looked all over for Coveney.

At one stage on the first Saturday of the campaign, his withdrawal from the race seemed inevitable.

Following a pep talk from the veteran Michael Noonan, Coveney announced he was continuing on — he acquitted himself well in the four regional hustings and restored some pride.

Varadkar took some stick for his mantra about “people who get up early in the morning” and his welfare cheats campaign.

In the end, Coveney swept the board among the grassroots by a margin of two to one, but Varadkar’s lead in the parliamentary party was unassailable.

On Friday, June 2, the 38-year-old won the leadership by taking 60%of the vote in a weighted ballot in which the parliamentary party had 65%of the total vote, the rank-and-file party membership had 25%, and councillors had 10%. He secured 35% in the membership ballot, 55% of the councillor vote, and, crucially, 51 of the 73 votes cast by members of the parliamentary party.

Leo becomes Taoiseach

Amid global reportage about old Catholic Ireland electing its first openly gay Taoiseach, who is also the son of Indian immigrants, Varadkar was formally elected to office on June 14.

He was nominated for the role by his predecessor, Enda Kenny, and, following a Dáil vote, he travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin where his appointment was confirmed by President Michael D Higgins.

In the Dáil, Kenny said Varadkar represented a “modern, diverse, and inclusive Ireland” and spoke for it like no other. “It is an Ireland where each person can fulfil their potential and live their dreams,” he said.

Kenny said having worked closely with Varadkar throughout his political career, he was confident he would bring energy, integrity, and skill to the role of Taoiseach.

His nomination was seconded by Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown Josepha Madigan.

In the vote on his nomination, Varadkar received 57 votes for to 50 votes against with 45 deputies abstaining.

Reshuffle disappointment

Varadkar’s first task was to appoint his Cabinet and his junior ministers. Having been built up as a radical, his changes to the ministerial ranks were lacklustre, to say the least.

Apart from the departures of Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan from Cabinet, Varadkar chose only to demote one minister, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, who eventually was made a super junior minister for higher education.

Michael Ring, Regina Doherty, and Eoghan Murphy were elevated into Cabinet amid calls that Varadkar got his gender maths wrong.

But the story of the reshuffle was the failure of Varadkar to promote his long-time ally John Deasy, as had been widely speculated.

What is clear is that Varadkar certainly considered elevating Deasy but backed away, much to the Waterford man’s disappointment.

On his way out the door, Kenny left a stink bomb for Varadkar in the controversial appointment of attorney general Maire Whelan to the Court of Appeal. The saga overshadowed the first two weeks of the new regime.

Leo Actually

It was on his first trip to 10 Downing Street as Taoiseach, Varadkar got himself into a bit of bother when he dropped a cringe-worthy reference to one of his favourite films.

At the start of his joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May, the Taoiseach made reference to the 2003 rom-com classic, starring Hugh Grant as a newly elected prime minister who danced around No 10 to the Pointer Sisters’ ‘Jump’ after a good day at the office.

“First of all, Prime Minister, thank you very much for hosting us today here in 10 Downing Street. It’s my first time in this building so there’s a little thrill in it as well,” said Leo.

“As we spoke on the way in I was reminded of that famous scene in Love Actually where Hugh Grant does his dance down the stairs,” he continued to some laughs from the assembled journalists.

“But apparently it wasn’t actually filmed here, so I didn’t get a chance to see the stairs.”

Reaction was mixed.

Justice for Grace

Another blot on the State’s copybook was the maltreatment of the intellectually disabled woman known as Grace. Following a commitment by the previous government to establish a commission of inquiry, serious foot-dragging by the HSE delayed its formal establishment.

Following an intervention by TD John Deasy, the then Garda commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said she had no objection to two internal HSE reports being released, which paved the way for the Government to establish the commission of inquiry.

Minister Finian McGrath was forced to amend the terms of reference to include the other 46 young people who went through the home.

Then in April, the High Court president described as a scandal the treatment of a young woman with intellectual disabilities who was left in the care of a foster family for 20 years despite physical abuse, gross neglect, and possible sexual abuse.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly approved a settlement involving a package of measures worth €6.3m for the woman referred to as ‘Grace’. The HSE apologised to the woman in court for the failings in her care.

Nóirín departs

After a seemingly never-ending series of scandals, Garda commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan announced her retirement from the force on September 10, with immediate effect. In a statement, O’Sullivan said she was stepping down because the “unending cycle” of investigations and inquiries meant she could not devote enough time to bring about the “deep cultural and structural” reforms required to modernise the force.

Relief in Government was palpable as she had become a lightning rod for controversy.

O’Sullivan retired with a lump sum of close to €300,000 and an annual pension of €90,000. As commissioner, O’Sullivan was on a salary of €180,000 per year. On her retirement, she was entitled to 150% of her final salary, capped at €300,000, as a lump sum, plus a basic pension of 50% of her salary.

Abortion

For so long this issue has haunted the political establishment in Ireland, but following on from the marriage equality referendum in 2015, moves to repeal the Eighth Amendment on abortion escalated.

The Citizens’ Assembly, which convened on this issue, really put the cat among the pigeons politically when it proposed a radical liberalisation of existing abortion laws. Some within Fine Gael, including Simon Coveney, expressed reservations as to how liberal the proposals were.

The issue was then handed to a 22-member committee of the Oireachtas to make a recommendation to Government.

After 12 fraught and emotionally charged weeks, 19 members of the committee produced a 16-page report which recommended repealing the Eighth Amendment (which recognises the equal right to life of a mother and her unborn child) and permitting abortions in most cases up to 12 weeks.

Three dissenters — Rónán Mullen, Mattie McGrath, and Peter Fitzpatrick — cried foul, accusing their

colleagues of biased groupthink. A referendum will be held next May or June, according to Leo Varadkar.

Brexit

Where to begin with the greatest own goal in recent political and economic history?

The year began with Enda Kenny travelling all across Europe to press Ireland’s case and concerns about the impact of Brexit on Ireland.

Such efforts paid off as Ireland was mentioned specifically as a key issue when talks between Michel Barnier and David Davis began.

While Kenny sought to cajole, Varadkar on taking office sounded a more robustly critical line towards the British. He said the Government was not going to design a border for the Brexiteers.

“It is the British and the Brexiteers who are leaving, so if anyone should be angry it’s us, quite frankly,” he said. “But we are not going to get angry. We are going to try and find solutions or at least minimise the damage to relations between Britain and Ireland to the peace process and to trading links.”

As talks continued towards the end of the year, the pressure and tension mounted as Dublin dug its heels in on the border issue.

Varadkar, in early December, showed a level of poise and cool beyond his experience and forced major concessions from the British, with a little help from his friends in Brussels.

“The first Irish leader to stand up to the Brits in 800 years and win,” was how one minister described it, perhaps slightly overstating his boss’s powers.

Phase 2 talks are now to commence but guarantees around the Irish question remain and a job well done so far by the Government.

Northern stalemate

If Varadkar and Coveney can be cheered for their work on Brexit, they cannot be as happy with the ongoing stalemate in Belfast.

Sinn Féin, led by Michelle O’Neill, who was appointed rather than elected, has shown no appetite to return to the executive, perhaps because it knows a programme of austerity awaits, which it fears would impact on their electoral chances in the Republic of Ireland.

Arlene Foster’s DUP, now the kingmakers in Westminster, have shown a similar lack of resolve to re-enter power; all the while Northern Ireland remains without a government.

While Varadkar has said he opposes a return to direct rule, time is running out to avoid it.

Foster and Co have made clear their displeasure with Varadkar and Coveney’s tougher stance but either fresh elections or the convening of a joint British-Irish conference to govern await.

Gerry’s long goodbye

Following Martin McGuinness’ death, speculation mounted as to how long Gerry Adams would remain on. The party had spoken about the transition of power from a man who has been president for 34 years and so its ard fheis in Dublin on November 18 was keenly awaited.

Adams, 69, confirmed he would not seek re-election to the Dáil, in the next general election. “I will not be standing for the Dáil; neither will Martin Ferris TD. This is also my last ard fheis,” he said.

Mary Lou McDonald is the clear favourite to succeed Adams when he formally steps down in 2018.

Sinn Féin bullying

Sinn Féin, throughout 2017, was rocked by a series of resignations by elected members over allegations of bullying and intimidation.

Lisa Marie Sheehy, Sinn Féin’s youngest elected councillor in the State, resigned from the party, citing a toxic atmosphere and a bullying culture in September. The resignation of the 23-year old Limerick councillor raised eyebrows given she was tipped for a Dáil seat.

Ten Sinn Féin councillors in six counties resigned from the party over the past three years, or are in dispute with it, amid various claims of bullying, “sham investigations”, whispering campaigns, and diktats from “middle management” prescribing what is said and determining how votes are taken.

Nenagh councillor Seamie Morris was the party’s candidate in last year’s general election. But following a row with his constituency organisation over recoupment of election funding, he found himself the subject of intense hostility locally.

Earlier this month, Sinn Féin lost another elected representative after a county councillor in Galway resigned and accused some in the party of “unacceptable behaviour”.

The resignation of Gabriel Cronnelly came days after a high-profile Galway senator also quit the party amid allegations of bullying. Trevor Ó Clochartaigh announced he was leaving the party with immediate effect.

While Mary Lou McDonald has acknowledged there is an “issue to be addressed” following a number of resignations, she has strongly rejected suggestions there’s a “culture of bullying” in the party.

North Korea

In probably the most left-field story of the year, several members of the Independent Alliance, in early November, said they wished to travel to North Korea in order to bring peace and stability to the region.

Amid mounting tensions between Pyongyang and the US, Minister of State John Halligan said he wanted to lead a peace mission to the rogue state along with two Independent Alliance colleagues — Transport Minister Shane Ross and the Minister of State with Responsibility for Disabilities Finian McGrath.

The proposed trip drew widespread condemnation from the Department of Foreign Affairs but also from their fellow Alliance colleagues Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran and Sean Canney, who let them know in no uncertain terms of their views. The trip was quickly dropped and the Alliance initiated a policy of radio silence.

John Halligan

Just a few short days later, Halligan found himself in further bother after it emerged he asked a female interviewee was she married.

The official made a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) which found in her favour.

Amid some muted calls for his resignation, Halligan indicated his willingness to pay the €7,500 fine for asking a civil servant if she was married during an interview.

Halligan expressed his remorse for the comments made during the process, describing it as a “genuine mistake” and said it was never meant to cause offence.

“I am not too sure how repayment could work but I have no problem in paying the money. If it can be paid, I will,” he said by telephone from Thailand.

The woman was awarded €7,500 by the WRC, which found she had been discriminated against.

Halligan, who is a family-friendly employer, survived the affair but was certainly bruised by it.

Seanad moves home

To facilitate much-needed repair work to the original Leinster House, the Seanad was forced to relocate to the National Museum.

The Seanad met in late September for the first time in its temporary home in the Ceramic Room of the National Museum of Ireland, next door to its usual base in Leinster House.

The works are estimated to take 18 months.

The cost of preparing the Ceramic Room for the Seanad’s relocation is €1.2m, just under the original estimate of €1.5m.

The move caused controversy initially, with former museum director Pat Wallace saying his ex-colleagues were so upset about the Seanad’s temporary residency that they were weeping.

He said that, apart from the principle of violating a building that was the national archaeological museum, and which housed the Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch, and the Cross of Cong, the museum was a central cultural institution. An Taisce also expressed reservations about the move.

Project Eagle/PAC

In March, the public accounts committee (PAC), after months of hearings, produced its highly critical report into Nama’s sale of its Northern Ireland loan book, known as Project Eagle.

The committee split over criticisms of then finance minister Michael Noonan, with Fine Gael TDs forcing several votes, for the first time in its 94-year existence.

In a debate in the Dáil, PAC chairman Seán Fleming accused Noonan of threatening to injunct the committee over the report.

During a heated Dáil debate, Noonan said he was disappointed the PAC had “conjured up other unjustified and unfounded criticisms of me and my officials; that these criticisms were leaked to the press”.

The minister also criticised Fleming for saying during an RTÉ radio interview that he had “chosen not to be open and upfront” over a meeting he had with Cerberus, the successful bidder for Project Eagle.

“I and my department refute absolutely the claims in the report that I and my officials acted inappropriately in meeting with Cerberus in March 2014,” Noonan told the Dáil.

Fleming responded by saying Noonan had threatened to injunct the committee during a conversation he had with him in Leinster House.

“Shame on the Minister for Finance to threaten the public accounts committee… I would go so far as question your fitness for office when you threaten the chair of the public accounts to injunct him for doing his job,” said Fleming.

Tracker mortgages

Although more than a decade old, it was only when the Oireachtas finance committee, led by chairman John McGuinness, heard testimony from the banks and affected customers did the issue take centre stage.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe hauled the banks in for a ticking off and called on the Central Bank to compile a report on the attempts to compensate and redress the situation.

Some felt he should have gone further but Donohoe said sanctions remain a possibility. Last week, the Central Bank produced its report which said more than 33,000 people are affected.

Drink driving/Danny Healy-Rae

In March, Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae said eating a big meal and getting behind the wheel of a car is as dangerous as drink-driving.

The Kerry politician hit out at the Road Safety Authority, saying it is on a “crusade to isolate people further in rural Ireland” during a debate on proposed new drink driving legislation.

Healy-Rae, a publican, was objecting to plans to introduce a mandatory three-month driving ban for motorists caught with a blood alcohol level of 51-80mg of alcohol per 100ml. Currently such an offence is punished with a fine and penalty points.

“Can I say to you, and many people will agree with me: If you eat too much and get in behind the wheel of a car, then you’re a danger on the road because you are likely to fall asleep after eating a big meal,” he said.

In September, he said he firmly believes that having a pint or a pint-and-a-half does not impair drivers or their ability to drive.

Water

2017 was the year in which Fine Gael surrendered in the war on water charges. To keep its deal with Fianna Fáil, the suspension of charges was made permanent, except for a small proportion of homes who are deemed to waste.

Irish Water as an entity remains but will be funded from general taxation and not charges. Refunds were paid back to 97% of homes by Christmas Day.

Michael D’s second term

Having previously said he would only be a one-term President, Michael D Higgins has proven to be very popular, leading many to say he should stand again.

Asked about his intentions at the Ploughing Championship by broadcaster Sean O’Rourke, the President said he would make his mind up by the summer of 2018.

Fine Gael would be quite happy to allow Michael D stand again to avoid the cost of a campaign, and a similar view exists among some in Fianna Fáil.

But the question remains if Michael D would be prepared to contest an election if a rival candidate does stand.

Rugby World Cup ‘piss up in a brewery’

Ireland’s failure to land the 2023 Rugby World Cup was a sharp wake-up call to a national delusion in November.

Ireland finished last in the bidding, behind France and South Africa, and the organisers of the Irish bid came in for sharp criticism.

They “couldn’t organise a piss up in the brewery”, the Seanad heard.

Fianna Fáil senator Terry Leyden launched a blistering attack on those behind Ireland’s bid, describing it as “amateur” and a “disgrace”. He said: “It is a case of crying over spilt milk at this stage as far as the Rugby World Cup bid is concerned, because really, quite frankly, they made a bags of it. Call a spade a spade.”

His comments drew a sharp and angry response from Fine Gael senator Neale Richmond, an avid rugby supporter and player, who raised previous comments by Leyden in which he “gave out” about women playing rugby.

“When we were in power we could negotiate for world events,” said Leyden.

“They could negotiate bailouts. That went really well too. Stick to what you know,” replied Richmond during heated exchanges in reference to Fianna Fáil’s mishandling of the economy which led to the arrival of the troika in 2010.

“I wouldn’t lose Scottish connections, I wouldn’t lose the Scottish vote or the Welsh vote. Where were they going? What kind of amateurs do they send out anymore? Sure they wouldn’t negotiate a piss up in a brewery for God’s sake. Give me a break, it is a disgrace,” said Leyden.

Labour pains

Labour’s Alan Kelly delivered a sharp warning to his leader Brendan Howlin that he had six months to reverse the party’s fortunes or face a heave.

When asked by TV3’s Sarah McInerney if he would give Howlin six months to improve the party’s standing, he replied: “I would say less than that.”

Michelle’s Shania moment

One of the lighter moments of the year was when Mayo Fine Gael senator Michelle Mulherin took to the stage for Ballina Rugby Club’s Strictly Lip Sync with a risqué Shania Twain routine which brought the house down and set the internet ablaze.

Kate O’Connell and Barry Walsh

Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell had a very impressive year, what with her “choirboys” comments in reference to Leo Varadkar’s supporters during the leadership campaign. But it was her blistering attack on Fine Gael national executive member Barry Walsh which showed she is not a woman to be messed with.

She produced printouts of some of Walsh’s offensive tweets and he hastily offered his resignation.

Another Maurice McCabe scandal/Election averted

Alan Kelly kicked the latest McCabe scandal off when he began asking very pointed questions of Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and failed to get answers.

Kelly asked what and when the department and Frances Fitzgerald knew about the strategy to undermine Sgt McCabe adopted by Nóirín O’Sullivan at the O’Higgins commission.

Micheál Martin and Mary Lou McDonald took up the mantle at Leaders’ Questions and Varadkar, based on information from Flanagan’s department, inadvertently misled the Dáil on several occasions.

As the crisis escalated, Fitzgerald scrambled to kill the crisis off, but she soon found herself the subject of a motion of no confidence courtesy of Sinn Féin.

Then Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan went on the Six One News saying his party would also be tabling a motion of no confidence.

With Fine Gael and Varadkar firmly backing Fitzgerald, a shock Christmas election seemed inevitable.

Micheál Martin told Varadkar the confidence and supply deal had been breached and the two leaders held a weekend of meetings.

Varadkar demanded a further trawl of documents from the Department of Justice which had not been sent to the Disclosures Tribunal, which showed Fitzgerald was aware of O’Sullivan’s legal strategy.

The emergence of the new emails made Fitzgerald’s resignation inevitable if an election was to be avoided.

She fell on her sword the next day and Varadkar replaced her with Josepha Madigan and Simon Coveney was made Tánaiste.

Her departure was sufficient for Fianna Fáil and the election was averted.

The collective sigh of relief in Leinster House could be heard all over the country.

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