Confidence-supply no longer ensures government stability

Resignations and defections have changed the Dáil voting arithmetic, so that non-aligned Independents now hold the balance of power, says Dr Michael Harty

The Dáil voting arithmetic has changed substantially since the negotiation of the confidence-and-supply agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in 2016. The agreement allows the Fine Gael-led minority government to win votes of no-confidence, and undertake cabinet reshuffles and budgets, provided Fianna Fáil abstain.