Coalition confident it can defeat 'cynical' Sinn Féin motion

Taoiseach brushes off the threat, saying the electorate does not want an election amid the cost-of-living crisis and war in Europe

Micheál Martin, pictured during his visit to the Axis Community Centre, Ballymun, shrugged off the Sinn Féin no-confidence motion set to take place on Tuesday night. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

The Government will be able to rely on at least 85 votes in the Dáil on Tuesday night, which will see it defeat what Micheál Martin has branded as Sinn Féin’s “cynical” no-confidence motion.

The Taoiseach is “confident” his Government will defeat the motion but insisted no side deals had been done with Independent TDs to achieve it. Along with the 79 TDs formally aligned to Government parties, former Fine Gael minister Joe McHugh and former Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry will vote with the Coalition parties.