Irish premier seeks unity in party after touchy vote

October 8, 1982

Irish Prime Minister Charles Haughey sought to restore unity within his governing Fianna Fail Party Thurday after surviving a no-confidence vote by the party's members of parliament Wednesday night.

Mr. Haughey's first priority was to choose two new Cabinet ministers to replace his trade and education ministers, who resigned to show their support for the no-confidence motion.

Despite his victory, many political observers here say Mr. Haughey has been weakened considerably by the resignations and the fact that 22 of 80 deputies openly opposed him in the confidence vote.