Harris wins confidence motion amid accusations of ‘cheap cynical trick’

Simon Harris survived a Dáil confidence vote as opposition parties accused the Government of cynically avoiding accountability before the election

Tanaiste Simon Harris speaks to at Government Buildings, Dublin. Picture: PA

Tánaiste Simon Harris has won a confidence motion in the Dáil by 94 votes to 65.

There was one abstention from Independent TD Paul Nicholas Gogarty

However, it remains unclear whether the Government will face another confidence motion next week, just days before the presidential election.

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said on Tuesday that his party plans to table a motion of no confidence in Mr Harris next week over “failed promises” on spinal surgeries for children, including nine-year-old Harvey Morrison-Sherratt, who died in July.

However, the Government opted to facilitate a motion of confidence in Mr Harris this week, despite Aontú’s motion not yet being submitted or published.

In his opening remarks, Taoiseach Micheál Martin paid tribute to Harvey and his parents, Gillian and Stephen, and acknowledged the “anguish of too many children.”

The Taoiseach said he “respected” Mr Tóibín’s good faith and “genuine concern,” but noted that motions of confidence “do not in and of themselves provide services or address the challenges that we're all concerned about”.

He added that changes are underway at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) following several reviews into care at its facilities, including the decision to integrate it into the HSE.

Mr Martin described Mr Harris as “an active and steadfast partner” who has been "a diligent, very dedicated and effective minister for foreign affairs and defence”.

“It's worth pointing out that we went to the country less than a year ago,” he said.

“This Government is about nine months old. The Irish people made their judgment in that election on the performance of the last government.

“We have a very clear mandate from the people, only less than a year ago. That's an important point when motions of no confidence are indicated, and my government was responding with a vote of confidence.” 

Mr Harris also paid tribute to Harvey, saying he would work with the family on an inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis services.

“I've never claimed to be infallible, but I do act in good faith, and when I make mistakes and when I err, I acknowledge them,” he said.

“I don't always get everything right but let us distinguish scrutiny from cynicism and accountability from opportunism.

“Let's reduce the toxicity in political debate. We must not permit the framing of debate to be decided by those who view politics as a zero-sum game composed of confrontation rather than conviction.” 

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called the decision to table the motion of confidence a week earlier than expected “a move cynically designed to intercept and shut down a prospective motion of no confidence” in the Tánaiste.

“The call for a no confidence motion in Simon Harris, or indeed, the call for Simon Harris to resign, didn't originate here in the Dáil,” she said.

“Those calls came directly from a groundswell of public anger, an anger that grew throughout the weeks of late summer, conveyed in protest and marches following the harrowing death of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who suffered from scoliosis and Spina Bifida.

“Calls for justice that were supported by Harvey's heartbroken parents, Gillian and Stephen, and I want to record that there is nothing toxic nor cynical in their calls for accountability and justice.” 

Ms McDonald said Harvey was born the year Mr Harris became Minister for Health in 2016. She said his 2017 comments that no child would wait longer than four months for surgery were “something that sounded good on radio,” and accused him of attempting to “pass the buck” and blame the HSE for delays.

She also accused the Government of “arrogance and entitlement,” saying the motion was tabled “simply because you didn't want a vote of no confidence in the Fine Gael leader landing in the same week as the presidential election”.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the motion was “incredibly cynical” and a “political stroke to avoid legitimate criticism of their failure of children with disabilities and their families for years”.

Mr Tóibín rejected the Government’s criticism, noting that the only reason the debate was being held today was because the Government had moved it forward.

Both sides were repeatedly warned against mentioning next week’s presidential election.

Following Mr Harris’s victory, it remains uncertain whether Aontú will push another confidence motion when it uses its private members’ time next Wednesday.