Ireland’s deputy prime minister— or Tánaiste— Frances Fitzgerald resigned her position on Nov. 28 rather than risk a vote of no confidence and the potential of new elections in the wake of a brewing controversy.
Fitzgerald, who represents Dublin Mid-West in the Dail, came under fire after news reports showed that she had been alerted to “whistleblower” allegations of alleged corruption within the Garda in July 2015, but took no action. She will also resign from her role as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
In a statement released to the press, Fitzgerald said she made the decision “to avoid an unwelcome and potentially destabilising general election at this historically critical time.”
According to RTE, Taoiseach Leo Varakdar confirmed Fitzgerald’s offer to resign and “he has accepted it.”
Fitzgerald’s resignation comes just three weeks before a crucial European Union summit on Brexit. EU leaders will decide at a Dec. 14-15 summit whether there has been enough progress to start discussions over Britain’s future relations with the bloc. Ireland says the EU will block those talks if Britain does not spell out how it can keep the Ireland-Northern Ireland border free of customs posts and other barriers after Brexit.
– REPORTER STAFF