Good morning.
It says something about the current Brexit crisis that today - with Theresa May attempting to cobble together a cross party way forward on Brexit - may offer the chance to pause and take breath.
The British prime minister, as expected, won the motion of no confidence in her government by a margin of 325 votes to 306. The DUP, whose 10 MPs supported May as required by their confidence and supply agreement, boasted afterwards that its backing was the difference between victory and defeat for the Tories.
During the confidence debate, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson eviscerated May's character in an understated speech while Michael Gove defended the Tory government - and reminded MPs of his leadership potential - with a ferocious attack on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
From his vantage point in the Commons press gallery, Denis Staunton says the "thought of a Corbyn government was enough to remind Conservatives that there was one person in the Commons chamber they disliked more than they loathed one another".
With the parliamentary theatre out of the way, May offered to meet with the leaders of other parties in the House of Commons to see what the Commons may accept on Brexit. Our lead this morning focuses on Corbyn's refusal to meet with May until she takes the threat of a no-deal exit off the table.
The message from Dublin, Brussels and other EU capitals remains the same: the House of Commons must decide what it wants. Against briefings from Downing Street that May is not yet ready to modify her own red lines, senior figures in Dublin expressed hope that the prime minister’s sense of duty would see her try to deliver whatever the House of Commons finds acceptable, even if that meant accepting membership of the single market and the free movement of people.
"She sees delivering Brexit as her mission," said one well placed source. From Brussels, Paddy Smyth says that the only way forward is for May to abandon those red lines. Cliff Taylor outlines the possible outcomes, which are many.
The travails of Shane Ross
The performance of the Minister for Transport at a press conference at which he, along with Simon Coveney and Simon Harris, earlier this week outlined some of the Government's no-deal Brexit preparedness left his government colleagues and observers distinctly underwhelmed.
At the helm of a department that will be at frontline of any fallout from a no-deal Brexit, Ross floundered when asked simple questions; almost inadvertently undermined the Government position that it is not preparing for checks on the Irish border; and was then caught on tape privately admitting to Coveney that he didn’t know what to say.
Ministers were scathing about Ross's command of his brief at both the press conference and the preceding Cabinet meeting. It has cast a light on how prepared the Department of Transport is generally for a no-deal Brexit, with sources bluntly telling Pat Leahy it is "all over the place".
Ross’s controversial tightening of drink driving limits were also criticised at the Cabinet meeting, although it is understood the Dublin Rathdown TD was not targeted personally.
We report that the application by An Garda Síochána of drink driving laws, particularly the mounting of checkpoints in the morning, led to a series of complaints from rural ministers.
The issue also dominated the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party this week, and TDs from all parties report it is a major issue of concern in rural Ireland. Ross is being lined up as the scapegoat by both government colleagues and those in Opposition.
Even those close to Ross acknowledge he has become the one of the most unpopular political figures among the public. The Minister for Transport at times seem to be in an unstoppable downward spiral, with his performance under attack and his pet projects, such as the judicial appointments bill, stalled.
Best Reads
Miriam Lord says Leo Varadkar put the fear of god into everyone.
Jennifer O'Connell, reporting from Hull, takes the students' view of Brexit.
On the op ed pages, Newtown Emerson claims that the backstop has backfired on the Irish government.
Stephen Collins says the left wing of UK Labour want as much chaos as the hardest Brexiteer.
Playbook
Dáil
Minister for Defence Paul Kehoe is on ministerial questions.
Tánaiste Simon Coveney will take ministerial questions, followed by questions on promised legislation.
This afternoon sees statements on the Government’s Brexit preparedness.
The Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 is resumes second stage.
The National Surplus Reserve Fund for (Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018 is at second stage.
A PMB from Paul Murphy - the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Restoration of Birthright Citizenship) Bill 2017 - is at second stage.
Seanad
The Seanad is not sitting today.
Committees
The PAC discusses prisons spending with the Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service.
The Housing committee meets in private.
Employment Affairs and Social Protection have a session on the JobPath programme with the Waterford Institute of Technology, the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board and United People.
