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.

This has allowed disgraced former Fine Gael minister, now independent Tipperary TD, Michael Lowry to try and put some distance between him and the Government. It remains to be seen if this is a principled stand or an attempt to squeeze more concessions from the Government he has agreed to support in the voting lobby.

Mr Lowry has decided to keep ministers guessing over his intentions in the looming vote of no-confidence, knowing that though FF and the Greens still have a majority on paper, they need all the help they can get – especially with unpredictable ex-Fianna Fáiler Joe Behan thrown into the mix. No such prevarications from Kerry’s Jackie Healy-Rae who insisted the voter backlash against Mr Cowen had not dented his faith and backing for the Government one bit.