The Government depends for its survival on four Independent TDs, Harry Blaney, Mildred Fox, Jackie Healy-Rae and Thomas Gildea. The Coalition between Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats was formed in June 1997 on the basis of support from the first three, who were later joined by Mr Gildea.
Since then, the support of the four has provided great comfort to the Government parties, providing them with the necessary majority in the Dail. Fianna Fail has 76 deputies, the PDs four, and the support of the four Independents brings the Government's voting strength to 84. This compares to a combined Opposition total of 81 votes, which includes other Independents. The reliability of the support from the four Independents has caused much speculation, but the arrangement has never appeared to be in any serious danger, chiefly because of the reliance of the deputies on the sweeteners they have obtained for their constituencies in return for their votes.
In a four-part series starting today, we profile the Government's four Independents, their attitudes, demands, what they say they have obtained from the deal with the Government and whether it can rely on their support as pressure increases for a general election.