Impressive gains for Independents trouble coalition

INDEPENDENCE Day has come once again as the importance of the Dáil’s non-party TDs continues to grow while the Government’s majority diminishes.

Tony Gregory’s heir Maureen O’Sullivan made it clear she will continue his anti-administration line after her resounding victory in the Dublin central by-election, and Finian McGrath is still at loggerheads with Brian Cowen over health and education cuts.

With Fianna Fáil down one Dáil vote after George Lee’s spectacular victory for Fine Gael in Dublin South, and the prospect of losing another by-election in Donegal if, as expected, Pat The Cope Gallagher secures a Euro seat, the numbers game is getting tighter for the Taoiseach as he faces into a no-confidence vote and, assuming he survives that, a bruising autumn with another tax and cut budget.