The Government has won a Dáil confidence vote in Minister for Justice Helen McEntee by 83 votes to 63. The motion was put forward by the Taoiseach in response to Sinn Fein’s Motion of No Confidence in the Minster.
Deputy Jackie Cahill Fianna Fáil and Deputy Michael Lowry Regional Independent voted confidence in the Justice Minister while 3 other Tipperary TDs Martin Browne Sinn Fein, Alan Kelly Labour and Rural Independent Mattie McGrath voted against the Government Confidence motion.
The motion was debated over two hours and the vote came shortly after 6pm yesterday evening.
Sinn Fein tabled the motion following the violent scenes in Dublin on November 23rd which followed an attack on school children in Parnell Square earlier that day. Sinn Fein were critical of the Minister for failing to remove the Garda Commissioner following the violent scenes in Dublin City Centre
The Dáil debate was raucous at times with many Government TDs referencing the murder of Gardaí and civilians by the IRA since the formation of the State and during the Troubles era. Several TDs expressed good wishes for the recovery of the injured victims and praised the Garda for their bravery during the riots.
Labour TD Aodhán Ó Riordáin said Ms McEntee’s failures are “cross-Government” and not hers alone. He condemned the use of the word “scumbags” by the Minister, saying that it had made the work of youth community workers harder. Labour voted against the Government’s counter-motion.
Independent TD Matt Shanahan from Waterford told the Dáil he had no confidence that Dublin was safe or that Gardaí modernisation or immigration policy was adequate but wanted the Government to remain in office to deliver on commitments made to him for Waterford relating to the Technological University, the Cath Lab service and an expanded airport.
