Little Christmas cheer for May as Corbyn makes move

Good morning.

A week to go, and we can all feel it. The Christmas getting on top of us a little. Lunches to be attended. Hangovers to be endured. Presents to be bought. All manner of preparations to be made. But lookit, it could be worse. You could be prime minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Yesterday Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announced he will table a motion of no confidence in Theresa May, who had earlier told the House of Commons that she would hold a “meaningful vote” on the Withdrawal Treaty in mid-January.

And while, as Denis Staunton reports from Westminster, a vote of confidence in Mrs May (rather than the Government) has no "constitutional significance", should a goodly chunk of her own MPs vote against her, the vote will further fray Mrs May's already threadbare authority.

Quarter of abortion-services GPs yet to agree helpline sign-up

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Decision on roll-out of rural broadband delayed

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Ministers won’t delay projects to pay for national children’s hospital

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Mary Hanafin to seek Fianna Fáil nomination for European elections

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The EU made clear at last week’s summit that the Withdrawal Treaty would not be reopened to water down the Irish backstop. It seems equally clear that Mrs May cannot get the treaty through the Commons.

In Dublin, the Government will today hear about preparations for a no-deal Brexit, which will happen at the end of March if nothing else happens before then. Some details are due to be published on Thursday, while the European Commission will publish another fusillade of no-deal papers tomorrow.

Most people in Government think that a no-deal remains unlikely. They are probably right. But it’s sure looking a helluva lot less unlikely than it was.

Denis's analysis is here.

The hand of Sir Humphrey

Another feature of Christmas is a mad scramble to get things done at the last minute. So it’s a busy Cabinet agenda today for the last meeting of the year.

As Fiach Kelly reports in our lead story this morning the Government will unveil its response to the Commission on the Future of Policing report today, which includes inter alia (ah, the bit of Latin) a new national security co-ordinator to head an office dedicated to analysing threats to the State.

Interestingly, however, the original report recommended the new national security co-ordinator would report directly to the Taoiseach, but today’s decision is likely to be that the new officer would report instead to the secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach. Thus moveth the hand of Sir Humphrey.

The Government decision will accept “in principle” the idea of divesting non-core activities - such as courts security, prisoner escorts and so on - from the gardaí, which suggests to the sceptical eye that it may never happen in practice. But we shall see.

A joint press conference with Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is scheduled, if you can bear the excitement.

Hospital pass

Minister for Health Simon Harris will have a busy Cabinet today too, as he seeks the go-ahead for the new National Maternity Hospital, having received the assurances about governance, ownership and, eh, nunlessness for the new facility.

All have been forthcoming, and Harris will give the nod for funding to be released, thus avoiding missing an end-of-year deadline to start the project.

But Harris has less cheery news about the National Children's Hospital where as we reported last week, the estimated costs are heading for Zimbabwean levels of inflation. The suggestion that other Ministers might trim their capital budgets next year to help pay for the children's hospital is certain to be forcefully resisted by Ministers.

Responses from Ministers last night varied from polite pooh-poohing to angry denunciations, which suggest the Christmas spirit of giving has yet to manifest itself around the Cabinet table.

Paul Cullen wonders why the hospital is set to be the most expensive in the world.

Best reads

Peter Murtagh reports from Roscommon that the house at the centre of the vigilante re-repossession last weekend has been reoccupied by its former owners.

New figures on the poverty rate are out. As ever they show a large "at risk of poverty" number and a much smaller "consistent poverty" rate. Though both have declined since last year.

Policing expert Vicky Conway says whatever the Garda reforms are, the Garda shouldn't police themselves.

On Brexit, this is from last week but worth reading.

And it is perhaps why these sort of pieces are now being written in the Spectator.

Playbook

Lots of sound and fury in Westminster, as usual.

Last Cabinet of the year; some Christmas parties too.

The abortion guidelines are expected to be published by the medics’ professional bodies today.

In the Dáil, Leaders’ Questions is at 2pm followed by the order of business for the week, Taoiseach’s questions and communications orals.

Several Government Bills - including the appropriations Bill, which must pass - are due to be debated before a late adjournment.

Full details, including the Seanad and Committees, on www.oireachtas.ie.

So that's it. We'll keep you updated during the day on irishtimes.com. Don't fret about getting everything organised. It'll be grand. Buy simple presents. Enjoy yourself. Remember life is too short to drink bad wine. And whatever you do, have a thoroughly, splendidly, irresistibly, fruity day.