THE GOVERNMENT Chief Whip John Curran has said that the Coalition still holds a stable and working majority despite the resignation from the Dáil of former Fianna Fáil minister Jim McDaid.
He said the Donegal North East TD’s decision would not have implications for the survival of the Government and expressed confidence that the four-year-fiscal plan and the budget would be passed by the Oireachtas.
With four Dáil vacancies there are 161 seats excluding that of the Ceann Comhairle. There are 73 Fianna Fáil TDs and six Green deputies. The Coalition is also supported by Minister for Health Mary Harney and two Independent TDs: Jackie Healy Rae and Michael Lowry.
Mr Curran said the Taoiseach’s office had received a letter from Dr McDaid last Thursday but that there was no reference in it to the TD’s impending resignation.
Neither he nor Taoiseach Brian Cowen was aware of the letter, or of Dr McDaid’s intention to resign, until yesterday morning.
Mr Curran insisted Dr McDaid’s support was not necessary for the Government but pointed out that the Donegal Deputy – who was often absent and had the worst voting record of any TD – always voted with the Government on major votes. Mr Curran said it was too early to make any decision on holding a byelection.
Mr Lowry, one of two independent TDs who support the Government, said that with the resignation there was a danger the budget might not be passed.
Mr Lowry said he himself would decide on how he would vote near to or on the day of the budget.
“Obviously Jackie Healy Rae’s and my support is now more crucial than it has been in the past but in my mind all of the time is that the country is on the brink of losing its economic independence. I believe an election is inevitable, but I don’t believe the political parties should use the economy to force an election,” he said.
Mr Healy Rae signalled that Dr McDaid’s decision was “Fianna Fáil’s internal business”. Speaking on his behalf, his son Michael Healy Rae said the TD’s support was contingent on the Government honouring the deal he entered into with it.
Asked did he agree with Mr Lowry that an election was inevitable, Mr Healy Rae said: “Not to be smart, I am not a fortune teller.” The dissident Fianna Fáil TD Mattie McGrath, who has lost the party whip, said the resignation would destabilise the Government. However, he indicated that his support for the budget was “solid”.
Opposition parties said the resignation highlighted the need for an immediate general election. However, another independent Deputy Finian McGrath, berated Dr McDaid, saying: “it is a disgrace the way he has treated the Dáil in recent years”.
The Dáil after McDaid
Government82
Opposition79
Vacated seats:Pat "The Cope" Gallagher, Martin Cullen, George Lee, Jim McDaid
Fianna Fáil without whip:Mattie McGrath, Jimmy Devins, Eamon Scanlon
Independents
Supporting Government:
Mary Harney, Michael Lowry, Jackie Healy Rae
Supporting opposition:
Finian McGrath, Noel Grealish, Joe Behan, Maureen O'Sullivan