Tonight’s forthcoming Fine Gael tabling of a motion of ‘No Confidence’ in the office of Taoiseach of Ireland, currently held for the third successive and historic time by Bertie Ahern, TD, will no doubt be watched closely by the nation. It’s expected to follow the timeline outlined by BreakingNews.ie earlier:
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will have to wait until 9pm to know his fate following the first ever motion of no confidence being tabled against him in the Dáil.
The debate will begin around 5pm and votes will be cast at 8.30pm.
A long-awaited Labour Party motion on the decision by Aer Lingus to switch Heathrow slots from Shannon to Belfast has been put back until tomorrow afternoon.
Representatives of Mid-West business and tourism interests were holding a small protest outside the Dáil today.
Opposition leader Enda Kenny earlier revealed plans to move the motion of no confidence following a meeting of his front bench.
Labour TDs are expected to support Fine Gael in the motion.
All TDs from the Government benches will be summoned into the Dáil chamber for the late evening vote by chief whip Tom Kitt.
Minister for Enterprise Micheal Martin and Minister for Overseas Development Michael Kitt are currently away on business.
However they will be ’paired’ with Opposition TDs to balance numbers.
This vote however, I believe, will damage public confidence in politics and no doubt make a life in politics for those with talent and aspiration on the road to the Dáil very difficult. I do not believe that in accepting any monies in the 1990s, Bertie Ahern did any wrong. Ethically I suppose there is a question to be answered, however politically, I do not believe that Ahern has done any wrong either by political favours or any other political deviation.
Therefore it is my estimation that this action by Fine Gael this evening will no doubt curtail anyone with ambitions of seeking office in the near or distant future from doing so. Nobody’s perfect. And let he who is without sin, cast the first stone! (P.S. I doubt that person is Enda Kenny!)
diarmy
