Government accused of ‘arrogance’ as Dáil debates confidence motion

By Grainne Ni Aodha, Cillian Sherlock, and Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

The Government has been accused of “arrogance” over the way it handled fuel protests, as a motion of confidence in the coalition was debated.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called the Government “brazen” and said it was “time for an election”.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was “manifestly untrue” to suggest the Government has done nothing to help people amid rising fuel prices, and said it was “dishonest” for the opposition to suggest “there are no hard choices”.

Ministers also criticised politicians who backed the blockading of critical infrastructure last week by protesters.

The Dáil is debating a confidence motion in the coalition Government, triggered by Sinn Féin, after a week of widespread disruption caused by protests and blockades of fuel supplies.

The Government announced a €505 million package of support on Sunday to respond to rising fuel prices caused by the war in Iran, but the political fallout from the protests continues as the Dáil returned from the Easter break on Tuesday.

All opposition parties have said they would vote against the Government’s vote of confidence in itself.

It is unclear how several independents who have supported the Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition Government will vote – including Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae, the brother of junior minister Michael Healy-Rae.

Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday, Martin said the coalition Government had taken significant action that goes “beyond anything being done elsewhere”.

Nobody has the right to prevent people from getting to cancer treatment, to be visited by their carer, to distribute vital supplies – the House needs to face up to the fact that these actions were very directly threatening the basic fuel supplies of the country

Martin said it would be “dishonest” for the opposition to suggest “there are no hard choices to be made”.

He criticised the “destructive” blockade of critical national infrastructure last week, which he said “went far beyond” past protests.

“Everybody has a right to protest, but nobody has a right to appoint themselves as the voice of the people and to threaten the jobs and livelihoods of many thousands of families,” he said.

“Nobody has the right to prevent people from getting to cancer treatment, to be visited by their carer, to distribute vital supplies – the House needs to face up to the fact that these actions were very directly threatening the basic fuel supplies of the country.”

Martin also said he condemned “the sinister targeting” of gardai and oil lorry drivers, and threats against politicians.

“Parliamentary democracy is something we should all affirm and defend. The great majority of people who have protested have done so reasonably and democratically.

“We all saw that this was not the case for some other elements – and everyone here should understand you can’t share platforms with them, express your support for them, call them the voice of the people, and then deny your responsibility for legitimising them.”

Tánaiste and finance minister Simon Harris said a planned Sinn Fein motion of no confidence was a “stunt” and if it succeeded, the financial measures announced by government at the weekend would “fall away” without parliamentary approval.

Harris said Sinn Féin had “decided on the motion before they ever saw the details of the Government’s package of supports”, and that it was “far more comprehensive and strategically responsive than anything they have proposed”.

McDonald described the coalition as “brazen” and said it was time for an election.

Your own arrogance, your lack of judgment, your lack of any empathy has left people with no conclusion other than this - your time is up

She also criticised the two-week Easter recess of the Dail during the fuel crisis and said the Government could not “hide behind global events”, adding that issues in Ireland began out of the Government’s budget.

“Your own arrogance, your lack of judgment, your lack of any empathy has left people with no conclusion other than this – your time is up.”

McDonald told Mr Martin: “Today, as you backslap, congratulate, flatter each other, just know that beyond your bubble people see a government out of touch.

“Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and your Independent backers, time is up.

“It is time to go back to the people. Time for an election.

“Let the people have their say. Your government no longer commands the confidence of the people – it’s time to go.”