Denis Naughten has resigned from his position as the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
Mr Naughten made his announcement this afternoon while speaking in the Dail.
It comes in the wake of recent controversy over the National Broadband Plan after it emerged that he had paid for lunch at Leinster House for the only bidder still left in the tender process.
Speaking to the cabinet today, Mr Naughten said "it is clear the Taoiseach does not have confidence in me" after meeting with him last night.
He said: "I'm now left in that impossible stark position a politician never wants to be in. Do I make the decision to resign or wait for the decision to be made for me?... This is more about optics than fibre optics."
The Independent TD then made a quick exit from the Dail after announcing his resignation.
Breaking News: Denis Naughten resigns as Communications Minister with immediate effect amid tendering scandal #iestaff
— Daniel McConnell (@McConnellDaniel) October 11, 2018
