Waterford Minister of State John Halligan has said he will resign from Government if Fine Gael pressurises his fellow Independent Alliance member Shane Ross to leave office.
In an interview with the Irish Times John Halligan said that the Alliance was fully supportive of Mr Ross and that he would be prepared to resign as a Minister in an act of allegiance to him.
He admitted he has had difficulties with Minister for Jobs Mary Mitchell O’Connor over job announcements in Waterford.
He said he felt it was unfair the announcements were not being made by him.
He also claimed he would reconsider his position in Government if a second cath lab was not provided at University Hospital Waterford.
However he acknowledged he faced an uphill battle to convince the Minister for Health Simon Harris of the necessity for such a move.
He says he will not lose his seat but Fine Gael will not have one in the constituency.
John Halligan has been absent for a series of difficult votes in the Dáil due to Government business abroad. He insisted he had not been sent away by Fine Gael to avoid causing controversy.
