Justice Minister Helen McEntee wins confidence vote

The Government won a motion of confidence in itself by 83 votes to 63.

Justice minister Helen McEntee listens as Dáil debates confidence motion. Picture: Oireachtas webcast

The Government has won a motion of confidence in itself by 83 votes to 63.

The government had tabled a counter motion to a motion of no confidence in Justice Minister Helen McEntee and, buttressed by votes from independents, saw off the motion by 20 votes.

In her speech, Ms McEntee said that she had worked to support gardaí and make communities safer. 

She accused Sinn Féin of politicising the stabbing of three children and their carer in Dublin 12 days ago.

Ms McEntee came under scrutiny following the stabbing of three children and their carer in Dublin city and the riots that followed.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he would not have confidence in a Sinn Féin member becoming minister for justice. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

Earlier during the Dáil debate, the Taoiseach dubbed a motion of no-confidence in Helen McEntee tabled by Sinn Féin a "political stunt".

"Removing the Justice Minister and the Garda Commissioner which is Sinn Féin policy would be a victory for those who engaged in violence and incited violence on our streets. It would embolden them to strike again," Mr Varadkar told the Dáil.

"And that alone should be sufficient reason to vote with the Government here tonight."

However, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the response of Government to crime and public safety has been "at best to skirt around the problem, at worst to completely abandon these communities".

She said the recent riot in Dublin was "entirely predictable" and was "openly orchestrated" following the attacks outside an inner-city school.

However, she said there was "no plan" and "no true response".

Mr Varadkar said he would not have confidence in a Sinn Féin member becoming minister for justice.

I would not have confidence in a Sinn Féin member, as Minister for Justice, proposing the appointment of the next Garda Commissioner."

He said he has known Ms McEntee for nearly 20 years and worked on her by-election campaign after the death of her father in December 2012 and has full confidence in the Minister.

Mr Varadkar added: "For those who are listening at home, I encourage you to come to Dublin city over the coming festive period, to support our businesses, to show solidarity with city centre communities."

He said there will be increased garda presence on the streets to ensure the public is safe.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the "sad reality" is the debate has "nothing to do" with the issue of policing on our streets, instead, it is about Sinn Féin "perusing its cynical and aggressive approach" which "puts electoral politics first in everything".

He said Ms McDonald has a "privilege" which is "almost unique in the democratic world" that allows her a daily opportunity to raise any issue she wants at Leaders' Questions in the Dáil.

If she thinks that something dangerous is imminent, she can stand here and demand action with the certainty that it will receive widespread coverage"

However, Mr Martin went on to say that over the past three months Ms McDonald "never once" raised the threat of violence or riots which she said the dogs in the street knew was brewing.

Junior Minister Jack Chambers said he has "zero confidence" in Sinn Féin as this is a party that has "confidence in people who have collected garda killers from prison".

"They have confidence in kangaroo courts and their own unique brand of rough justice.

"They have confidence in members of their own Parliamentary party who tried to storm Government Buildings."

This was echoed by Simon Harris who said Sinn Féin has "had a good run" but "people are starting to see nothing is more important to Sinn Féin than Sinn Féin".

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"Deputy McDonald, you wanted the people of Dublin Central to #MaketheChange and vote a 'popular and respected member of the community' to Dublin City Council. That person was the Navan Road torturer Jonathan Dowdall."

Minister of State in the Department of Education Josepha Madigan strongly urged the Sinn Féin leader to withdraw remarks she made claiming Government supports had not been put in place for two weeks after the incident.

Dubbing the opposition "Mary Lou Trump, fake news" she said National Educational Psychological Service (Neps) psychologists had been in the school within hours of the stabbings.

Micheál Martin said that over the past three months Mary Lou McDonald "never once" raised the threat of violence or riots which she said the dogs in the street knew was brewing. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

The Taoiseach also accused Ms McDonald of misleading the Dáil in her claims.

But Ms McDonald refused to withdraw her remarks.

Minister for Further Education Simon Harris accused Sinn Féin of attacking the media, demonising opponents and exploiting crises.

Mr Harris also said Ms McDonald had thrown a “party for a man who collected a garda killer from the prison gates” and had encouraged people to vote for former councillor and convicted criminal Jonathan Dowdall.

He said: “People wanted unity, they tried to create division. Sinn Féin is following the populist playbook.

"A playbook that elected a reality TV star as President of the United States and sent Nigel Farage to Europe.

“Maybe Mary Lou can join them on their next reality TV show: ‘I’m A Populist, Get Me Out Of Here’.”

• For more on how a confidence motion works, you can find our explainer here.