Warning to FF rebels over ‘saving their skins’

REBELLIOUS Fianna Fáil TDs were last night given a blunt warning not to try and “save their skins” by putting their constituency needs ahead of the country’s.

As Brian Cowen’s authority in the Dáil weakened further with a backbencher threatening to withdraw support for the Government over health cuts, ministers stepped in to prevent it triggering a wave of protests by insisting there was “no pot of gold” available.

With TDs returning after an 81-day summer break this Wednesday for a tough session leading up to the austerity budget on December 7, the move by Mattie McGrath puts the coalition’s knife-edge majority in further danger.