What was likely said next?  - What happened in the run in to the dissolution of the Dail?. - 
When he got there, he was informed that a series of telephone calls had been made by senior opposition figures (and some Independent TDs), including the Leader of the Opposition (and ex-Taoiseach) Charles Haughey, Brian Lenihan and Sylvester Barrett demanding that the President refuse the dissolution, as he was constitutionally allowed to do when it was advised by a Taoiseach who has "ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann." Had Hillery done so, it would have forced FitzGerald's resignation as Taoiseach and enabled the Dáil to nominate someone else for the post—presumably Haughey.