Government Could Face Motion Of No Confidence Next Week

The coalition has lost its technical majority after Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh voted against the government.

A motion of no confidence in the government is to be filed next week.

It will be tabled by Sinn Fein after the Government lost its technical majority in the Dáil last night.

Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh voted against the Mica Redress Scheme Bill and lost the party whip.

Head of News at the Irish Independent, Offaly's Kevin Doyle says it's unlikely the deputy will go out of his way to make things harder for government:

It comes as the path clears for Leo Varadkar to be elected Taoiseach later this year.

The DPP has decided against prosecuting him for leaking a confidential GP document to a friend of his.

The Fine Gael leader gave a copy of a contract agreed with the IMO to a friend of his, Dr. Maithiú O'Tuatháil, who at the time worked for a rival GP group. 

After many months of garda investigation a sizeable case file was passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions which confirmed last night no prosecutions would be pursued arising from the case.

The Tánaiste said he was pleased at the outcome and he always maintained the allegations of wrongdoing were false.

He thanked the Taoiseach, Government and party colleagues, his partner and family for their support through the investigation. 

He's also hit out at those who made allegations of wrongdoing against him, adding that some people went to extraordinary lengths to make the claims and they actions were politically motivated. 

The Tánaiste accepts the use of an informal channel to hand the IMO deal to a friend was inappropriate.

But Leo Varadkar says allegations it was anything more than error were false and made by sworn political opponents of his party.

Mr. Doyle says power is back in the Tánaiste's hands: