It was, tutted one member of the Cabinet, truly old-style politics: throw enough mud as possible and make ‘em deny it.
The comment was, of course, in reference to the Dáil voting controversy. The Minister, believing that Fine Gael had cornered Niall Collins and Timmy Dooley fair and square, decried Fianna Fáil’s response of making allegations – true or not – about Fine Gaelers being absent for Dáil votes.
Yet, even though Fianna Fáil had some success in widening the controversy to include Ministers and others, it today finishes its worst Dáil week in quite some time. Senior party figures looked on edge, while staffers trudged through hours of tapes of Dáil proceedings in the hope of catching out Government TDs.
As Jennifer Bray reports, this morning will see the publication of the findings of an initial investigation into the controversy by Peter Finnegan, the clerk of the Dáil. Finnegan examined the events of this day last week, which saw Collins vote six times for Dooley while the Clare TD was absent from the chamber during the weekly bloc voting session.
Finnegan is understood to have spoken to Collins and Dooley, as well Lisa Chambers and Dara Calleary, both Mayo TDs. During the same voting bloc last Thursday, Chambers voted for Calleary, the Fianna Fáil deputy leader.
Writing in our opinion pages this morning, Finnegan's predecessor as clerk, Kieran Coughlan, says "'votegate' is serious but represents a carelessness across all sides of the House and no more".
The report will be published after a meeting of the Dáil’s Committee on Procedures at 9am and there will be statements in the House this afternoon. It is not yet known if the deputies involved will actually make a statement, although it is anticipated that Micheál Martin will do so.
But no matter the outcome of the report – with further, separate inquires under way – the overall effect of the voting controversy has been to take the wind out of Fianna Fáil’s sails.
The party had a renewed confidence since it outpolled Fine Gael in the local elections in May and belief that it could beat Fine Gael in the general election has grown. In addressing his parliamentary party on the controversy, Martin is understood to have warned against such complacency.
The past fortnight has seen Leo Varadkar strike a new Brexit deal with Boris Johnson and Fine Gael’s opinion poll ratings improve. Varadkar’s TDs could barely conceal their delight in seeing out the week before the autumn recess by routing Fianna Fáil.
In Fianna Fáil, a pre-Christmas election could not have come at a worse time but any dash from Fine Gael to the polls has probably been halted by the anticipated failure of Boris Johnson to get Brexit done by October 31st.
In an analysis piece, Pat Leahy says the election drums beat louder as relations between the confidence and supply partners deteriorate further.
What measures, if any, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl will take against Collins and Dooley are awaited in Fianna Fáil, although some TDs believe a hefty price has already been paid with Martin’s sacking of the pair from his front bench.
Dooley and Collins were seen as leading contenders for Cabinet places in a Fianna Fáil-led government, but events of recent days may have altered that assumption.
Macron sabre rattles on Brexit extension
Following Boris Johnson’s success and failure in the House of Commons this week – success in securing a majority behind his Brexit deal, but failure to get MPs’ backing for a rapid parliamentary timetable that would allow Britain leave the EU by October 31st – EU leaders have been considering an extension to the Article 50 negotiating deadline.
The Benn Act stipulated that Johnson ask for an extension until January 31st and it seems that most of the EU27 are comfortable to accede to the request, while allowing the UK leave earlier if the House of Commons can pass the Withdrawal Agreement through all legislative stages.
Yet, as happened earlier this year when Theresa May sought an extension, Paris is making some objections. Emmanuel Macron is said to maintain that an extension should only be granted for the purposes of a general election or new Brexit referendum.
Ireland is among other members states who are worried that a short extension could result in a crash-out, no-deal Brexit. Ambassadors from the EU27 were said to be in broad agreement at a meeting last night that the extension request could be deal with in writing, without the need to call an emergency summit of the European Council.
Like a good Boy Scout, however, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil is he always prepared. "My bags are always packed for Brussels and packed they are again," he told TDs.
Best reads
Denis Staunton reports from the scene of yesterday's horrific discovery of 39 bodies in the back of a truck in Essex.
Newton Emerson writes that Stormont is unlikely to return without some fundamental changes.
Suzanne Lynch has reports on the latest developments in the Trump impeachment hearings, while Janan Ganesh argues that seeing the worst in politicians has brought out the worst in politics.
Playbook
Dáil
The Finance Bill resumes second stage at 9am, followed by the Industrial Development (Amendment Bill).
Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring is on ministerial questions.
Leaders’ Questions is at noon, followed by questions on promised legislation.
A motion on the Financial Resolutions of the Finance Bill is just before the weekly voting hour.
Statements on the report into the Dáil voting controversy are due to be taken at 2.25pm.
The Finance Bill and Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill resume afterwards.
There will be statements on the National Children’s Hospital.
Seanad
The Upper House is not sitting today.
Committees
The PAC discusses forestry grants.
Housing, Planning and Local Government has a session on the Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies.
The Good Friday Agreement launches its reports on Communities and Cross Border Co-operation: Challenges and Opportunities.
Finance, Public Expenditure and DPER discusses the Central Bank’s tracker mortgage examination with representatives of the bank and the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.
Employment Affairs and Social Protection resumes a session on bogus self-employment.
Justice and Equality launches a report on the reform of the family law system.
Business, Enterprise and Innovation takes committee stage of the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2018 with Minister Heather Humphreys.
Norma Shearer of the Training for Women Network is before the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
