A motion of no confidence in the leadership of John Bruton is to be considered by the Fine Gael parliamentary party tomorrow afternoon. The motion was tabled by the Waterford deputy, Austin Deasy, earlier today. A spokesman for Mr Bruton said that the no confidence move would be vigorously opposed. Fine Gael's front bench tonight voted confidence in John Bruton's leadership.
A letter from Austin Deasy to the party chairman, Phil Hogan, asked that the motion should be debated at an early opportunity. Mr Deasy's move comes within days of an opinion poll, which showed a drop in support for Fine Gael, with John Bruton at the bottom of the popularity ratings for party leaders. Mr Deasy is due to leave Dáil politics at the next election. His son, John, is one of two candidates selected by Fine Gael to contest the Waterford constituency.
