‘Temporary little arrangement’ has always irritated Soldiers of Destiny

In 1989, then-finance minister and would-be taoiseach Albert Reynolds was eviscerated for dismissing Fianna Fáil’s coalition with the Progressive Democrats as a “temporary little arrangement”, writres Daniel McConell.

This ire was reflective of the widespread opinion within the Soldiers of Destiny at the time that single-party government was a core belief and Charlie Haughey’s deal with Des O’Malley and his fellow rebels was a betrayal.

In the Dáil bar on Thursday evening, a group of Fianna Fáil TDs gathered around the TV screen to watch their justice spokesman, Jim O’Callaghan, effectively call time on the supply and confidence arrangement by saying that the party would not be voting confidence in Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald.