Risk of early election as relations between FG and FF ‘plummet’ over Whelan affair

Relations between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have ‘plummeted’ amid accusations of breaches of faith between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin over the Máire Whelan affair.

Sources on both sides have been greatly alarmed by the nature of the clashes between the two men at Leaders’ Questions this week, leading many to suggest a general election is now far more likely this year.

The alarm comes as the Irish Examiner has learned Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney was called upon to defuse a major row last Sunday between Mr Varadkar and Transport Minister Shane Ross over Ms Whelan’s appointment to the Court of Appeal.