Ireland’s deputy prime minister Frances Fitzgerald has said she is resigning for the sake of the country, averting a snap general election.
She had been under pressure over a police whistleblower scandal that could have brought down the government.
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said he had accepted her resignation with “deep regret”.
She quit hours before a motion of no confidence in her was to be proposed by the main opposition party, FiannaFáil.
There were fears that an Irish election could have complicated next month’s EU meeting, at which the Republic of Ireland’s position will influence the assessment of the UK’s progress in Brexit talks.
According to Irish broadcaster, RTÉ, Ms Fitzgerald told a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that she was not asked or forced to resign, but took the decision herself.
“I believe it is necessary to take this decision to avoid an unwelcome and potentially destabilising general election at this historically critical time,” she said.
“Throughout my career I have always sought to act with integrity and responsibility, and that is why I have decided on this occasion to put the national interest ahead of my own personal reputation.”
She had been under pressure to resign because of her inaction in supporting a Garda whistleblower, Sgt Maurice McCabe, whom she had publicly defended in her former role as Irish justice minister.
Ms Fitzgerald held the dual roles of tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) and minister for business, enterprise and innovation.
Speaking in the Dáil (Irish Parliament) on Tuesday, Mr Varadkar described her as an “exemplary member of government and a loyal colleague”.
