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. "Throughout my career I have always sought to act with integrity and responsibility, and that is why I have decided on this occasion to put the national interest ahead of my own personal reputation. "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. Fitzgerald had been under pressure from within Fine Gael after she admitted that she knew about allegations against Sgt McCabe, but did not inform senior officials until last week.
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. Fitzgerald had been under pressure from within Fine Gael after she admitted that she knew about allegations against Sgt McCabe, but did not inform senior officials until last week.