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Irish PM Enda Kenny to give timeframe for standing down | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny is expected to give his Fine Gael parliamentary party a timeframe for stepping aside when they meet later. | |
It is believed Mr Kenny will stand down shortly after meeting President Trump in Washington for the annual St Patrick's Day shamrock presentation. | It is believed Mr Kenny will stand down shortly after meeting President Trump in Washington for the annual St Patrick's Day shamrock presentation. |
There had been speculation he would face a motion of no confidence at Wednesday night's meeting | There had been speculation he would face a motion of no confidence at Wednesday night's meeting |
However, it now seems unlikely that will happen. | However, it now seems unlikely that will happen. |
The speculation was that a no confidence vote would result from his handling of a police whistleblower controversy. | |
The controversy began more than three years ago when two whistleblowers - Sgt Maurice McCabe and the now retired John Wilson - alleged there was widespread corruption with the Republic of Ireland's driving licence penalty points system. | |
A public inquiry is to be held into whether Sgt McCabe was falsely smeared by senior officers in the An Garda Síochána (police). | |
There will also be an independent review of police operations. | |
False allegations | |
Last week, the Irish coalition government - which is made up of Fine Gael and the Indepenent Alliance - survived a vote of no confidence in the Irish parliament (Dáil). | |
The government won the motion by 57 votes to 52 votes and there were 44 abstentions. | |
Sinn Féin tabled the motion over the handling of false sex crime allegations against the police whistleblower Sgt McCabe. | |
The party accused the government of covering up "who knew what and when." | |
The Fine Gael leader was re-elected as taoiseach (prime minister) in May 2016, 70 days after a general election which had produced no outright winner. He was the first Fine Gael taoiseach to be re-elected to office after a general election. | The Fine Gael leader was re-elected as taoiseach (prime minister) in May 2016, 70 days after a general election which had produced no outright winner. He was the first Fine Gael taoiseach to be re-elected to office after a general election. |
Mr Kenny became leader of Fine Gael in 2002 and was first elected taoiseach in 2011. | Mr Kenny became leader of Fine Gael in 2002 and was first elected taoiseach in 2011. |
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