Fine Gael rips up pairing rules

DÁIL guerrilla warfare was declared when Fine Gael decided to rip-up the gentleman’s club rule book and go for Brian Cowen’s political jugular – his dwindling Dáil majority.

The pairing system allows deputies to be absent from Dáil votes without posing a risk to the voting strength of their party as it ensures a TD from the other side of the house will also be away to keep equilibrium in numbers.

Every Friday during Dáil sessions, the Government chief whip John Curran meets Fine Gael counterpart Paul Keogh to go through the list of ministers and other deputies that are seeking pairs.