1st LD Writethru: Irish deputy PM set to resign

DUBLIN, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Irish Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Frances Fitzgerald is set to resign under intense pressure both from the opposition and from her own party, according to government sources on Tuesday.

The sources said Fitzgerald is to announce her resignation hours ahead of a no-confidence motion in the Dail Eireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's parliament.

Last week, Irish main opposition Fianna Fail (Republican Party) lodged a motion of no-confidence in Fitzgerald. The motion will be debated in the Dail Eireann at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The opposition party alleged she was involved in a conspiracy aimed at smearing police whistleblower Maurice McCabe when she served as minister for justice from 2014 to 2016. But she rejected the opposition's allegations, saying that she was not part of any conspiracy to undermine McCabe.

Following the 2016 general election, Fine Gael (United Ireland Party) formed a minority government with some non-party TDs (members of parliament). The minority government was made possible by a confidence and supply agreement with Fianna Fail, which agreed to abstain in confidence votes.

Analysts here say Fitzgerald's decision will remove the possibility of a pre-Christmas general election.

Fianna Fail says the standoff could be resolved if Fitzgerald steps down. But Fine Gael insists the deputy prime minister did nothing wrong and should not be forced from her position.

Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael do not want a snap general election. Enditem