Fennelly Fallout: Vote of confidence from Taoiseach may be poisoned chalice

As Alan Shatter knows only too well, receiving a public vote of confidence from Taoiseach Enda Kenny is no good thing if his back is against the wall.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One News programme on Tuesday night, just as the interim Fennelly report into the Garda commissioner ‘retirement’ controversy was published, the Fine Gael leader was asked about the future of attorney general Máire Whelan.

Dismissing any suggestion her position could be under threat due to revelations she did not inform cabinet of the scale of the Garda station recordings crisis until March, despite knowing about it in November, Mr Kenny flashed a smile and said the “outstanding” Labour appointee and legal expert has nothing to worry about.