Mattie McGrath supports no-confidence motion in Harris and calls on Govt to 'throw in the towel'

Update - 11.27am: The leader of the Rural Independent Group of TDs, Mattie McGrath has said that he supports his colleague Michael Collins’ proposal for a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health Simon Harris.

“I haven’t had confidence in Simon Harris in a long time,” he told RTÉ radio’s Today with Séan O’Rourke show.

He described discussions between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin as “unseemly” and he urged them to “throw in the towel.”

There was “too much spin” and “the arrogance is palpable”, he added.

Danny Healy Rae added his support for the motion of no confidence in Simon Harris.

"Time is clearly up for this Government as they have left the people down badly especially Minister Simon Harris in Health, Minister Eoghan Murphy in Housing and Minister Shane Ross along who along with the Government have done more harm to the people of rural Ireland than any previous Government,” he said.

Earlier: 'Somebody must be accountable for this': Michael Collins to propose no-confidence motion in Simon Harris

Independent TD Michael Collins is proposing a no-confidence motion in the Minister for Health Simon Harris.

He met with the leader of the Rural Independent Group Mattie McGrath on Wednesday and told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland that he is confident of the support of his colleagues.

There will be an opportunity to put forward the motion at the end of January or in early February, he added. “I am hopeful that any self respecting politician will support this motion.

“I think it would be carried.”

Mr Collins said that the Minister for Health had presided over a “major crisis in the health service” with elective surgeries being cancelled, record numbers on trolleys, a recruitment embargo, delayed discharges and the “highest ever” waiting lists.

Somebody must be accountable for all this.

The Cork South-West TD pointed out that he and Rural Independent Group colleague Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae had returned from Belfast earlier this week with the 51st group of patients from the south west who had cataract surgery in Northern Ireland rather than remain on waiting lists.

When asked if he was ready for a General Election in the event that the motion of no-confidence was successful, Mr Collins said: “It is up to Leo if an election is needed or not. Simon Harris is not functioning as a Minister. If that means a general election then so be it.”

The time of year was not an issue he said as preparations had already begun. “It’s already started. The sooner the better.”

Government Ministers already have 'Vote Number 1' stickers on their cars, he said.