Government wins confidence motion but loses junior minister

The Irish Government has won a motion of confidence over its handling of a fuel crisis, but suffered the resignation of a junior minister in the process.

The confidence motion was called after the Dail parliament resumed after the Easter break, which was marked by major protests including the blockading of critical infrastructure – including the country’s only oil refinery.

It won the motion by 92 votes to 78 – with Michael Healy-Rae among those going against the Government, shortly after tendering his resignation as a minister of state.

The Government called the vote after the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, first tabled a motion of no confidence in it over the coalition’s handling of recent fuel protests and cost-of-living support.

Mr Healy-Rae, an independent who supported the formation of a coalition with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, announced his resignation during the debate as he said Irish premier Micheal Martin should have listened to protesters.

A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said he received no prior warning of the announcement and described his resignation as “disappointing”.

Mr Healy-Rae went to Mr Martin’s office after the announcement but the two could not speak as the Taoiseach was on a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

There was an increased presence of the Irish police service, An Garda Siochana, outside the seat of the Dail parliament for the debate.

A large crowd of protesters had gathered outside Leinster House, including some of those who had taken part in the blockades.

Some chanted “get them out”, “traitors”, “shame on you”, “out, out, out”, and “not Irish”.

Elsewhere in the debate, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald called the Government’s response to fuel protesters “brazen” and said it was “time for an election”.

Mr Martin said it was “dishonest” for the opposition to suggest “there are no hard choices” on rising fuel costs.

Ministers also criticised politicians who backed the blockading of critical infrastructure last week and said work to help people with rising fuel costs was under way before the protests began.

The Government announced a 505 million euro 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 Dail returned from the Easter break on Tuesday.

All opposition parties voted against the Government in the confidence motion.

Mr Healy-Rae’s announcement came as a shock to the Government.

“I’ve always looked at myself as a gauge of the people of rural Ireland, and I really believe that I am,” he told the Dail.

“Because of the fact that I believe this Government have let the people of Ireland down, I will be voting no confidence in the leader of the country, and I will be tendering my resignation as a minister of state from now.

“I would ask that future governments and this Government, that they would listen, that they would be kind, that they would be understanding. There are farmers that are really suffering so much at present.”

Speaking in the Dail on Tuesday, Mr Martin said it was “manifestly untrue” to suggest the Government had done nothing to help people amid rising fuel prices, and that the coalition Government had taken significant action that went “beyond anything being done elsewhere”.

Mr 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.”

Mr 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.”

Irish deputy premier 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 the Government at the weekend would “fall away” without parliamentary approval.

Mr Harris said Sinn Fein 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”.

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

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.”

Ms 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.”

Later the Dail voted on, and passed, the package of support measures the Government announced on Sunday.