Exiled Green Party TDs to vote with Government in no-confidence motion
The Taoiseach said the focus should be on delivering a budget and a cost of living package by the end of September. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos
The country does not want a general election and needs the Government to run its full term to succeed, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
Speaking after Cabinet but ahead of the Dáil motion of no confidence in the Government, Mr Martin again hit out at Sinn Féin for tabling the motion, which he said will be defeated.
The Government will have the support of at least 88 TDs tonight for the motion of confidence after Sean Canney confirmed his intention to support the Government.
Mr Canney, an independent TD for Galway East said he believes that people need a Budget that deals with the cost-of-living crisis rather than a general election at this time.
“For that reason, I will not be supporting a motion of no confidence at this time. The move by Sinn Féin is ill timed and would not deal with the immediate cost of living crisis, it would heap more suffering on people. We need immediate action now,” he said.
Last week, he voted in favour of the Sinn Féin motion for an early budget.
“It is time now to get on with this very important budget to help the people in these times of a rapid and unprecedented rise in the cost of living,” he said.
“In my discussions with the Taoiseach, I gave him fair warning that the Government need to up their game and I will continue to hold them to account for their actions. My vote today is not to be taken as ongoing and I will deal with each vote as it arises,” he added.
Meanwhile, Independent Waterford TD Matt Shanahan has said he will abstain from the vote.
"I have decided to abstain from today’s vote as a calibrated and positive response to my present political position," he said in a statement this evening.
"Over recent days, I have been in discussion with Government to find a pathway that delivers politically for Waterford and the south east region - such a platform could offer a reliable and durable vote to support the Government," he told the .
In these conversations, he said he sought nothing more than details on the delivery of regional priorities in acute healthcare, higher education, capital investment and infrastructure— commitments reiterated in the Programme for Government, in Ireland 2040 and in the specific commitments of cabinet members over the past two years.
Earlier, exiled Green Party TDs Patrick Costello and Neasa Hourigan came to an agreement to vote with the Government on the motion of confidence, they have confirmed.
Ms Hourigan and Mr Costello had the whip removed from them in May after they voted against the coalition on an issue related to the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital.
A statement from the pair did not elaborate on the nature of the agreement, but the securing of their votes brings the Government to 88 in the motion.
160
Ceann Comhairle and Denis Naughten (away)
80
88
69
2
In advance of the vote, Independent TD Marc MacSharry said that in exchange for his support for the Government in the confidence motion, he has received commitments that cardiology services at Sligo University Hospital will be enhanced along with the inclusion of Sligo in the mica redress scheme.
This is despite Mr Martin saying on Monday there would be "no side deals" with independents.
The Taoiseach said: “I will be hopeful that Government will come through this evening. I think the most pressing issue facing Government now is a budget, is a cost of living package. The week before last, Sinn Féin we're asking for an emergency budget. Now they're asking for the general election. It doesn't tally, it is not consistent.”
He said the focus should be on delivering a budget and a cost-of-living package by the end of September, which he said in his view is what the people want and the people require right now.
“I have a long-standing view that to deliver sustained change and reform you need governments to go the distance actually, that's a view I've had for a long, long time,” he said.
"And that's the best way to ensure the changes on climate, changes on economy, and in terms of housing and health can be affected.
"Ultimately, if people are looking at elections every two years, that brings short termism to the fore and doesn't allow for proper long term decision,” he added.
Earlier Office of Public Works Minister Patrick O'Donovan said Independent TDs must choose between “a Government with a plan” or a “Marxist regime” in this evening’s confidence vote.
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