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Ireland faces possible snap election over police scandal Ireland faces possible snap election over police scandal
(35 minutes later)
Ireland is on the verge of a snap election after the party that props up the country’s minority coalition government threatened to pull down the administration over a police whistleblower scandal.Ireland is on the verge of a snap election after the party that props up the country’s minority coalition government threatened to pull down the administration over a police whistleblower scandal.
The prime minister, Leo Varadkar, faces the prospect of going to the polls next month in the middle of a crucial summit on the EU, Britain and Brexit at which the stakes are high for the Irish Republic. The prime minister, Leo Varadkar, faces the prospect of going to the polls as early as next month, in the middle of a crucial summit on the EU, Britain and Brexit at which the stakes are high for the Irish Republic.
The prospect of a Christmas general election emerged over the last 24 hours following a row about emails from the deputy prime minister, Frances Fitzgerald, into how police deal with a whistleblower alleging corruption and malpractice. The prospect of an election emerged over the last 24 hours following a row about emails from the deputy prime minister, Frances Fitzgerald, into how police deal with a whistleblower alleging corruption and malpractice.
Fianna Fáil submitted a no confidence measure in Fitzgerald on Friday, which will be voted on next Tuesday.
Varadkar, leader of the Fine Gael party that heads the minority government, has ruled out the resignation of his deputy Frances Fitzgerald. But opposition Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin said Fitzgerald “should step aside in our view and that would avoid a general election”.
An Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police service, has faced a series of scandals in recent years that have led to the resignations of two Garda commissioners, played a key part in former prime minister Enda Kenny stepping down, and now threaten to bring down the Irish government. An Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police service, has faced a series of scandals in recent years that have led to the resignations of two Garda commissioners, played a key part in former prime minister Enda Kenny stepping down, and now threaten to bring down the Irish government. 
Then justice minister Alan Shatter receives an interim Garda report on allegations that drivers' penalty points were being cleared, with no reasons given. Two officers described as whistleblowers - former Garda John Wilson and Sgt Maurice McCabe – had raised the issue, alleging misconduct and corruption within the force.Then justice minister Alan Shatter receives an interim Garda report on allegations that drivers' penalty points were being cleared, with no reasons given. Two officers described as whistleblowers - former Garda John Wilson and Sgt Maurice McCabe – had raised the issue, alleging misconduct and corruption within the force.
A report from the Comptroller & Auditor General supports some of the whistleblowers' allegations, finding "operational weaknesses" in the fines system, and saying the Garda had lost significant revenue from irregularities.A report from the Comptroller & Auditor General supports some of the whistleblowers' allegations, finding "operational weaknesses" in the fines system, and saying the Garda had lost significant revenue from irregularities.
Martin Callinan, then Garda commissioner, announces his retirement amid controversy over his comments to the Dáil's (Irish parliament's) public accounts committee (PAC), in which he said he found the whistleblowers' allegations "quite disgusting".  Martin Callinan, then Garda commissioner, announces his retirement amid calls for his resignation, after he said he found the whistleblowers' allegations "quite disgusting". 
Alan Shatter, who had also criticised the whistleblowers, steps down after receiving a critical report into how he and his department handled the allegations made by McCabe. The government launches an inquiry into the scandal, led by the former high court judge, Kevin O'Higgins. Alan Shatter, who had also criticised the whistleblowers, steps down after receiving a critical report into how his department handled McCabe's allegations. The government launches an inquiry into the scandal, led by the former high court judge, Kevin O'Higgins.
The 362-page report identifies serious flaws and failures but finds no evidence of Garda criminality or corruption. It upholds many of McCabe's complaints, but also says some of his claims were overstated. The report also finds Shatter "did his work well".The 362-page report identifies serious flaws and failures but finds no evidence of Garda criminality or corruption. It upholds many of McCabe's complaints, but also says some of his claims were overstated. The report also finds Shatter "did his work well".
Supt David Taylor, former head of the Garda press office, says he was directed by senior officers including Callinan and his replacement Nóirín O'Sullivan to discredit McCabe. Commissioner O'Sullivan denies any involvement in the alleged smear campaign.
The first public investigation into the alleged smear campaign against McCabe begins, chaired by Supreme Court judge Peter Charleton. It is ongoing.
Senior Garda officers reveal that almost one million drink-driving tests recorded by the police did not take place, and a separate error that caused almost 15,000 wrongful traffic convictions. The Gardaí apologise to those affected, but the mistake could cost Irish taxpayers millions.
The focus is on an email from May 2015, which outlined how legal teams for Nóirín O’Sullivan, then the police commissioner, and Maurice McCabe, a police officer and whistleblower, clashed at an inquiry into the latter’s allegations of police malpractice. The email related to a strategy Sgt McCabe’s supporters claim was drawn up by the police high command to discredit him.The focus is on an email from May 2015, which outlined how legal teams for Nóirín O’Sullivan, then the police commissioner, and Maurice McCabe, a police officer and whistleblower, clashed at an inquiry into the latter’s allegations of police malpractice. The email related to a strategy Sgt McCabe’s supporters claim was drawn up by the police high command to discredit him.
Asked in an interview with the national broadcaster RTE whether the only thing that could prevent a snap election was the resignation of Fitzgerald, senior Fianna Fáil member Dara Calleary said: “I think so.”
Fitzgerald had claimed that she did not remember the email, and that, in any event, she could not have legally intervened. Her defenders in the ruling Fine Gael party have said there is a judicial inquiry into the handling of the way Sgt McCabe was treated and that should be allowed to run its course.Fitzgerald had claimed that she did not remember the email, and that, in any event, she could not have legally intervened. Her defenders in the ruling Fine Gael party have said there is a judicial inquiry into the handling of the way Sgt McCabe was treated and that should be allowed to run its course.
Fine Gael deputies in the Irish parliament on Thursday night appeared to rally round the deputy PM. She also received the backing of Varadkar and his foreign minister, Simon Coveney.Fine Gael deputies in the Irish parliament on Thursday night appeared to rally round the deputy PM. She also received the backing of Varadkar and his foreign minister, Simon Coveney.
Coveney said on Thursday that the judicial inquiry into the McCabe affair should be allowed to finish. “We should allow that process to conclude these issues rather than trying to prejudge them now in a way that, I believe, to be unfair to Frances Fitzgerald,” he said.Coveney said on Thursday that the judicial inquiry into the McCabe affair should be allowed to finish. “We should allow that process to conclude these issues rather than trying to prejudge them now in a way that, I believe, to be unfair to Frances Fitzgerald,” he said.
On Friday morning Coveney said the last thing Ireland needs is a general election in the middle of crucial Brexit negotiations.On Friday morning Coveney said the last thing Ireland needs is a general election in the middle of crucial Brexit negotiations.
While Fine Gael parliamentarians passed a motion of support for Ftizgerald, the party relies on the goodwill of the main opposition party, Fianna Fáil, to remain in power.While Fine Gael parliamentarians passed a motion of support for Ftizgerald, the party relies on the goodwill of the main opposition party, Fianna Fáil, to remain in power.
Fianna Fáil operates a policy similar to the Democratic Unionists at Westminster in a so-called “confidence and supply” strategy. Like the DUP in London, Fianna Fáil in Dublin props up a minority government by backing it only in votes of no confidence in parliament. Senior sources in Fianna Fáil said that “confidence and supply” strategy was “dead in the water” if Fine Gael continued to insist Fitzgerald remain in office.Fianna Fáil operates a policy similar to the Democratic Unionists at Westminster in a so-called “confidence and supply” strategy. Like the DUP in London, Fianna Fáil in Dublin props up a minority government by backing it only in votes of no confidence in parliament. Senior sources in Fianna Fáil said that “confidence and supply” strategy was “dead in the water” if Fine Gael continued to insist Fitzgerald remain in office.
Forged in the Irish civil war as the side that accepted the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, Fine Gael has a centre-right, pro-market and pro-European outlook. The party has two distinctive wings: a socially liberal, urban and professional base, and a rural grassroots following with strong links to the farming community.Forged in the Irish civil war as the side that accepted the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, Fine Gael has a centre-right, pro-market and pro-European outlook. The party has two distinctive wings: a socially liberal, urban and professional base, and a rural grassroots following with strong links to the farming community.
Initially comprising opponents of the Anglo-Irish treaty, Fianna Fáil is also seen as centre right. It dominated Irish politics for much of the 20th century and used to enjoy a predominantly working-class membership. An archetypal pragmatic political force, the party now has strong links to builders and property investors. Initially comprising opponents of the Anglo-Irish treaty, Fianna Fáil is also seen as centre right. It dominated Irish politics for much of the 20th century and used to enjoy a predominantly working-class membership. An archetypal pragmatic political force, the party now has strong links to builders and property investors. 
Once umbilically linked to the Provisional IRA, Sinn Féin has benefited enormously from the Irish peace process, with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness becoming internationally renowned political figures. The party takes a populist and pragmatic approach to economic issues. Once umbilically linked to the Provisional IRA, Sinn Féin has benefited enormously from the Irish peace process, with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness becoming internationally renowned political figures. The party takes a populist and pragmatic approach to economic issues. 
Fianna Fáil will table a no confidence measure on Friday that could precipitate a general election either before Christmas or possibly early in the new year. It appears likely that mid-January may be the preferred time for a fresh election, Fianna Fáil sources said.
One Fianna Fáil source said: “Someone in Fine Gael will have to talk to Fitzgerald over the weekend and convince her to resign.”One Fianna Fáil source said: “Someone in Fine Gael will have to talk to Fitzgerald over the weekend and convince her to resign.”
Sinn Féin’s deputy leader, Mary Lou McDonald, accused the deputy PM of having “clearly failed in her duties” when she learned about a strategy that was “so utterly malicious and designed ... to ruin Sgt McCabe’s life”.Sinn Féin’s deputy leader, Mary Lou McDonald, accused the deputy PM of having “clearly failed in her duties” when she learned about a strategy that was “so utterly malicious and designed ... to ruin Sgt McCabe’s life”.
McDonald, who is hotly tipped to succeed Gerry Adams as the next Sinn Féin president, claimed Fitzgerald should have acted to counter this strategy she learned about in the email sent to her in May 2015.McDonald, who is hotly tipped to succeed Gerry Adams as the next Sinn Féin president, claimed Fitzgerald should have acted to counter this strategy she learned about in the email sent to her in May 2015.
Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have claimed that this email was evidence that the legal team acting for the police were using “aggressive tactics” against Sgt McCabe and that Fitzgerald should have acted on it. Fitzgerald has insisted she had no legal powers to intervene in the way the police legal team were acting.Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have claimed that this email was evidence that the legal team acting for the police were using “aggressive tactics” against Sgt McCabe and that Fitzgerald should have acted on it. Fitzgerald has insisted she had no legal powers to intervene in the way the police legal team were acting.
Varadkar’s predecessor, Enda Kenny, resigned in May this year after coming under growing internal party pressure over his failure to secure a majority government in the general election in 2016 and his handling of the crises in the Irish police.Varadkar’s predecessor, Enda Kenny, resigned in May this year after coming under growing internal party pressure over his failure to secure a majority government in the general election in 2016 and his handling of the crises in the Irish police.