After it emerged last night that Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald had been contacted repeatedly about the Gardaí's alleged legal strategy to undermine the credibility of Maurice McCabe, it seemed as though Fine Gael was circling the wagons.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar insisted that the former Minister for Justice's position had not changed and that he would not be removing her from office. Simon Coveney spoke on Claire Byrne live and advocated for the Charleton Tribunal to take its course rather than conceding that Fitzgerald should step down.
Fitzgerald herself also tweeted defiantly in defence of herself, writing: "As Justice Minister I could not interfere with the O'Higgjns Commission. This is confirmed twice in today's docs & has been confirmed by the AG."
https://twitter.com/FitzgeraldFrncs/status/935264271897948160
https://twitter.com/FitzgeraldFrncs/status/935264358682292226
Now, for the first time, it appears that Fine Gael TDs are going public with their doubt over Fitzgerald continuing in the Cabinet. Speaking to RTÉ RnaG this morning, Galway West TD Hildegard Naughton said "it will be difficult" for the Tánaiste to remain in her position.
Many on Twitter now suspect that the floodgates will open when it comes to TDs disavowing Fitzgerald.
https://twitter.com/BarryWhyte85/status/935435521718923266
https://twitter.com/owenhennelly/status/935435166985719808
https://twitter.com/declanvarley/status/935434374652317696
https://twitter.com/declanvarley/status/935435462449213441
