The Irish deputy prime minister has stepped down over her involvement with a police whistleblower case . She resigned shortly before a motion of no confidence in her was due to be tabled in the Irish parliament , which , if successful , could have led to a general election . " I believe it is necessary to take this step to avoid an unwelcome and potentially disastrous general election at this historically critical time , " said Fitzgerald , who defended her role in the Sgt Murphy affair . The Irish prime minister , Leo Varadkar , said he accepted her resignation with " deep regret " .
The Irish deputy prime minister has stepped down over her connection with a police whistleblower scandal. She resigned shortly before a motion of no confidence in her was due to be tabled in the Irish parliament, which, if successful, could have led to a general election. "I believe it is necessary to take this decision to avoid an unwelcome and potentially destabilising general election at this historically critical time," said Fitzgerald, who defended her involvement in the Sgt McCabe case. The Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, said he accepted her resignation with "deep regret".