Fianna Fáil to pick candidates as Dáil deal falters

A senior Fianna Fáil TD has warned Fine Gael its actions in Government are risking early general election as backroom party officials confirmed Fianna Fáil is preparing to select candidates in key election constituencies.

Finance spokesman Michael McGrath made the comment as he said that the fallout from the Máire Whelan affair means “the trust is definitely damaged” between both parties.

Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics programme, Mr McGrath said the reality is that the controversy over Ms Whelan’s appointment to the Court of Appeals “breached” established legal practice.