Government defeated in Dáil: Options limited

Yesterday, the Government suffered its sixth and seventh defeats in Dáil votes since May, when motions on fossil fuels and tracker mortgages came before the House.

These defeats, though unlikely to have any immediate or profound impact, underline how very uncertain the Government’s authority is.

Such limiting circumstances are never ideal, from an administration’s perspective, at least, but at a moment when the real, and increasingly challenging, consequences of Brexit begin to take shape, and as the committee preparing a report on domestic water charges works on its final paper, they seem unsustainable.

The sad reality is that we have a wing-and-a-prayer Government dependent on arrangements unlikely to withstand any great challenge.

The growing impatience of backbenchers constrained by the ‘supply and confidence’ deal will exacerbate matters, as will the administration’s inability to lead any difficult, divisive reform.

In these circumstances there are not too many options. Might we join France, Germany, and Holland by having an election this year?