Dublin riots ‘should have been met with unified response in Dáil’

By David Young, PA

The riots in Dublin should have been met with a unified response in the Dáil, the Tánaiste said as he questioned the Sinn Féin motion of no confidence in the justice minister.

Sinn Féin’s motion of no confidence in Helen McEntee on Tuesday is set to be countered by a motion of confidence tabled by the Government – a vote the minister is largely anticipated to win.

Tens of millions of euro of damage was done to public infrastructure after disorder in the capital last month which saw buses, trams and Garda cars set on fire and shops in O’Connell Street and Henry Street looted.

The disorder flared after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant in the north inner city.

Sinn Féin has tabled the motion of no confidence in Ms McEntee after claiming gardaí lost control of the city.

Its leader Mary Lou McDonald said there needs to be accountability for the “catastrophic failure” to keep people safe.

Ms McDonald said a lack of Garda members and Government inaction have resulted in people feeling less safe in the city, as well as in other parts of the country.

On Monday, Tánaiste Micheál Martin predicted the minister will receive “strong” Government support and backing from several Independent TDs.

“Motions of confidence have become mechanisms that are used with increasing regularity by opposition, particularly by Sinn Féin,” he said.

“So, I think, you know, there will be strong Government support and clearly a number of independents have indicated their support as well.

“So, I expect the motion of confidence in Helen McEntee to be passed tomorrow.

“I think obviously Government will table a motion of confidence, is my expectation, and I believe that will be passed.

“And my own view is the institutions of the State came under attack and that’s a time for unity.

“When bus drivers are attacked, when gardaí are attacked, and when businesses and workers are attacked via the fact that their shops are closed because of attacks on those particular premises, I mean, we all have to unite to oppose those who wish to attack the institutions of the state.

“And the focus should be on solutions, collectively within the Oireachtas working to develop ideas and solutions to deal with the issues that arise from the rioting of last week – and that’s on a number of fronts, not just in policing, but on a number of other fronts as well.”