Spotlight Turns To Simon Harris, As Coveney Survives No Confidence Motion

Minister Simon Coveney survived a confidence motion in the Dáil last night

The support of a number of Independent TDs saw Minister Coveney win the motion 92 votes to 59. During last night's debate Simon Coveney criticised Sinn Féin for pushing a confidence motion in the first place. 

But the coalition has sustained some damage. Sligo/Leitrim TD Marc MacSharry resigned the Fianna Fáil whip and voted against the Government. The other main Fianna Fáil rebel John McGuinness wasn't present for last night's vote.
Former Minister Barry Cowen did deliver a warning to his coalition colleagues,  that Fianna Fáil is far from united behind Simon Coveney and this was last chance saloon for the Ministers involved in the Zappone controversy.

Meanwhile Sinn Feins Matt Carthy claimed that rather than dealing with the debacle, Fine Gael had run a sting operation involving an unnamed junior Minister, to expose that Simon Harris had leaked the appointment from the Cabinet meeting. it's an allegation that has been rumoured in political circles since August.

A spokesperson for Simon Harris said last night that Deputy Carthy's allegations were a clear misuse of Dail privilege and untrue.