dublin ireland minority government look set collapse within days friday party prop submit motion confidence deputy prime minister weeks summit britain plan leave european union prime minister leo varadkar say motion withdraw tuesday would force hold election christmas prospect eu officials say would complicate key eu summit dec. 14-15 brexit would mean throw good woman bus save government would wrong thing varadkar tell national broadcaster rte dismiss demand deputy frances fitzgerald quit varadkar due play major role brexit talk tell eu leaders whether ireland believe sufficient progress make future border eu-member ireland britain province northern ireland border one three issue brussels want broadly resolve decide whether move talk second phase trade britain want varadkar could go summit caretaker role say election would happen christmas successor could attend next meet eu leaders february fresh mandate head opposition party fianna fail micheal martin early say election avoid government take action ask fitzgerald resign varadkar say would seek expect offer resignation fianna fail support minority fine gael government confidence supply arrangement vote confidence minister would break agreement varadkar martin meet friday due speak weekend ahead motion no-confidence fitzgerald debate tuesday trigger handle legal case involve police whistleblower time issue decisions need make reverberate country decades come prospect either election take place government place afterwards actually unconscionable finance minister paschal donohoe tell rte however source familiar fine gael plan say begin make preparations friday snap poll well border issue brussels want resolve brexit talk move trade arrangements britain financial settlement leave bloc right eu citizens live britain eu brexit negotiator michel barnier assure irish foreign minister simon coveney friday eu would defend dublin position talk britain come weeks coveney tell parliament thursday government yet ready allow talk move trade issue need clarity london fianna fail martin say parliament would unite behind varadkar december summit university college dublin politics professor david farrell say varadkar may tempt take even hard line unite kingdom talk bid shore support among irish voters overwhelmingly brexit suppose card try play distract crazy shenanigans around cause election leadership europe say election would likely dominate fianna fail fine gael two centre-right party differ little policy bitter foes decades something always leave minority government one serious row away collapse would also present opportunity left-wing opposition party sinn fein see veteran leader gerry adams decision last week step boost support party say deputy leader mary lou mcdonald would lead election one call sinn fein third large party republic say want enter government two large party rule deal former political wing irish republican army ira since varadkar appointment fine gael leader six months ago party narrowly lead fianna fail opinion poll suggest party would increase support struggle form anything another minority government irish government set fall weeks brexit summit