Ex-Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick will back next week’s budget after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar “personally” asked him for his vote during an emergency 45-minute one-to-one private meeting. “It was a 45-minute meeting, it was at the Taoiseach’s request, and he said he needs my vote,” Mr Fitzpatrick said. Meanwhile, the Government press secretary and Mr Fitzpatrick both separately confirmed yesterday that Mr Varadkar did not speak to the Louth TD last week when reports of his potential departure first emerged. Instead Mr Varadkar, who had last spoken to Mr Fitzpatrick in late July, left discussions to Fine Gael parliamentary party chair Martin Heydon, who sits next to Mr Fitzpatrick in the Dáil, and Government chief whip Joe McHugh. However, Mr Fitzpatrick told the Irish Examiner last night he wants to remain as an Independent and has no plans to join any other group.

Source: Irish Examiner October 03, 2018 04:18 UTC