Breaking: Government wins confidence vote by comfortable margin
The coalition’s countermotion to reaffirm confidence in the Government was backed by 86 TDs, with 67 voting against. There were no abstentions
The Government has won a motion of confidence after the Labour Party tabled a vote over housing policy and the ending of a temporary moratorium on no-fault evictions.
The coalition’s countermotion to reaffirm confidence in the Government was backed by 86 TDs, with 67 voting against. There were no abstentions.
It follows a separate vote last week in which the Government survived a Sinn Féin motion that called for the extension of an eviction ban which is due to expire at the end of the month.
It faces another vote on Wednesday evening after Sinn Féin tabled a Bill to extend the eviction ban until January.
However, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien introduced an amendment which would prevent a vote on the Sinn Féin Bill if passed.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has moved a motion reaffirming confidence in his Government.
Speaking in the Dáil ahead of the vote, Mr Varadkar said: “This is a good Government.”
The Labour Party had originally tabled a motion of no confidence in the Government over the ending of the eviction ban.
“I believe the housing crisis cuts so deep because it offends our sense of fairness, our fundamental belief in what Government is for and what the State should do,” Mr Varadkar said.
“Housing is a basic need and a human right.
“Family homelessness, in particular, shakes our faith in our Republic which is founded on the idea that all children should be cherished equally.”
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said if Government survives this motion of confidence, she expects there will be more votes of no confidence to follow.
“Time is running out for this Government,” she said.
“The people it has failed on housing have had enough.
“They’ve no confidence in the Government’s ability to solve the housing disaster, they have no confidence in your plans, or confidence in your promises.
“They no longer even have confidence in your presentation of information.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the opposition has abandoned “any effort to offer a comprehensive alternative”.
“In the place of an alternative, all we have from them are soundbites intended only to exploit the very real concerns of people on particular points while ignoring the overwhelming majority of issues and the actions taken by the Government to address it,” he said.
Mr Martin said the motion was called due to Labour “seeking attention”.
“It has adopted a strategy of trying to match others for angry rhetoric and empty promises. Just like other left parties, it remains so terrified of Sinn Fein’s troll army that it is increasingly incapable of presenting a distinct position from that party on any matter,” he added.
Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail criticised interruptions “on both sides” of the house.
“This debate has been a disgrace,” he said.
TDs will now vote on the motion of confidence.
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