Main Points
- The Government won its confidence motion by 92 votes to 78. The motion stemmed from its handling of the recent fuel protests
- Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit Solidarity, Independent Ireland, the Greens, 100% Redress and several Independents voted no confidence in the Coalition
- Independent TD Micheal Healy-Rae, a Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, resigned from the Government shortly before the vote
- Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan is not seeking a review of media coverage of the fuel protests despite his previous suggestion that he would
- Fixed penalty notices were issued by police to some drivers involved in fuel protests across Northern Ireland
Key Reads
- Pat Leahy: Today’s events leave Coalition looking more brittle
- How much will petrol and diesel cost after new measures begin?
- Fintan O’Toole: Ireland’s far-right will emerge from ‘breakfast roll-atariat’
That’s all for this evening.
Follow along tomorrow for more coverage.
Good night.
Independent Minister of State Micheal Healy-Rae took the Dáil and the Government by surprise when he announced his resignation during a harsh and vitriolic motion of confidence debate, writes Parliamentary Correspondent Marie O’Halloran and Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.
The Government won by a comfortable 92 to 78 votes but the Kerry TD’s resignation is the first significant crack in the Coalition’s unity and reduces its support to 92, five above the 87 required for a majority.
The former independent minister told the Dáil he was tendering his resignation and “voting no confidence in the leader of the country” because “I believe this Government has let the people of Ireland down”.
For the full article, click here.
Dáil accepts Government’s €505 million package
The Dáil has voted to accept the Government’s €505 million package of supports including a delay in the increase in the carbon tax until October and further cuts in excise on petrol and diesel, reports Parliamentary Correspondent Marie O’Halloran.
In a series of votes, a majority accepted the package with a final vote of 115 to 52.
Sinn Féin, Independent Ireland, People Before Profit Solidarity, Aontú and 100% Redress TD Charles Ward voted against the package.
The resignation of Michael Healy-Rae as a junior minister, and the related loss of his brother Danny as a backbench supporter, deals a significant blow to the Coalition, the first cut to its majority since it was formed last year, writes Political Editor Pat Leahy.
Politics is about lots of things that aren’t measurable – emotions, hope, loyalty, ambition. But it’s also about things that are measured by clear numbers. And perhaps the most important set of numbers is support in the Dáil, for on that depends the attainment and the exercise of power.
The Coalition still has a comfortable Dáil majority, winning the vote of confidence by 14 votes, 92 to 78.
For the full article, click here.
Minister O’Donovan not seeking media coverage review of fuel protests despite suggestion he would
Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan is not seeking a review of media coverage of the fuel protests despite his previous suggestion that he would, reports Political Correspondents Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn.
O’Donovan came under criticism after he told a number of regional radio stations on Monday that he planned to raise his concerns about the fairness and balance of some media coverage with regulator Coimisiún na Meán, the Media Commission.
O’Donovan’s comments were described as “sinister and deeply disturbing” by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).
On Tuesday, O’Donovan met the media regulator but the meeting did not result in a formal review of media coverage being ordered.
For the full article, click here.
Independent Ireland TDs speak to protesters after Government survives confidence motion in Dáil, in video by Enda O’Dowd
Fixed penalty notices issued to some drivers in Northern Ireland
Fixed penalty notices have been issued by police to some drivers involved in fuel protests across Northern Ireland, reports Northern Correspondent Seanín Graham.
Others were cautioned for public order offences, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed on Tuesday evening.
Slow-moving convoys of tractors caused traffic disruption on some major roads from lunchtime, including the Syndenham bypass close to Belfast City Airport.
Some people were seen walking on the side of the road with luggage.
The A6 at Toome, Co Antrim, was also blocked by protesters earlier in the day.
Dozens of vehicles also took part in a convoy at the Ballygawley roundabout in Co Tyrone.
There was further traffic disruption on other main roads, including the A1 where scores of tractors and lorries formed a convoy in Hillsborough, Co Down, as it headed toward Belfast before turning at the Sprucefield roundabout and drove south.
A “proportionate” policing response was implemented to “ensure public safety and to help minimise disruption to the wider community”, according to the PSNI.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said its emergency services vehicles were not impacted by the disruption.
A PSNI “evidence-gathering operation” was in place on Tuesday and the service said it will review footage to “consider further prosecution for any potential offences.”
“Today’s policing operation was designed to minimise disruption to the strategic road network, maintain business as usual at critical infrastructure and to prevent escalation and prolonged disruption,” PSNI chief superintendent Norman Haslett said.
“The right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are fundamental human rights which are protected in law and allow individuals to engage in peaceful protest,”
“However, these rights are balanced by the need to uphold the rights of others, protect public health and safety, minimise disruption to normal life and by the need to prevent and detect crime.”
‘People talk about a rainy day fund. It is pouring now,’ says Michael Healy-Rae
Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One News, resigned Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae said, “I worked over the last number of days and into last weekend, meeting with the different sectoral groups from farmers, contractors.”
“I did my best along with the senior Minister Martin Heydon and others, my colleagues Timmy Dooley and Noel Grealish and others, we did our level best, but I feel it wasn’t enough.”
“People talk about a rainy day fund. It is pouring now,” he added.
He said he is “obviously in favour” of the new package to tackle rising fuel costs, but said “it should have been more, because there are billions on reserve and at the moment, there is a real crisis.”
“The whole nub of why I had to resign today was I really believe that leadership of Government don’t fully understand the hurt, the hardship, the anger that is out there at present with this government. And my job is to be a Teachta Dála (TD), a messenger of the people.”
When asked if his decision to resign shows that when the going gets tough the Healy-Rae’s are more suited to opposition than government, he replied, “absolutely not.”
Adding, “because anybody that knows me personally, they know that when the going gets tough, that’s when I thrive.”
He told Six One that in his speech in the Dáil, he asked this Government and future governments to “listen more acutely to the different sectoral groups, to the people on the street and understand the problems and difficulties that are out there and try to be kind and compassionate and realise that if there is money on reserve and if people need it, better schemes should be put in place even more so than the one I worked on.”
Government had ‘no prior warning’ of Michael Healy-Rae’s resignation
Michael Healy-Rae blindsided the government with his resignation from his ministerial role, with government spokespersons confirming there was “no prior warning” for coalition leaders before his Dáil announcement, reports Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.
Speaking to reporters at the weekly post-cabinet media briefing, a spokeswoman for the government said that there was no prior warning and that when Healy-Rae went to the Taoiseach’s office to submit his letter of resignation, Micheál Martin was on the phone to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“We respect the decision of Michael Healy Rae, it’s disappointing obviously that he’s tendered his resignation, he was a good minister, a good colleague, and we wish him well in the future,” a government spokesman said.
There is no immediate clarity on when a replacement will be appointed, or indeed if the role will be filled or subsumed into the responsibilities of other ministers.
Asked whether the stability of government would be affected by the resignation, the spokesman pointed to the margin of the coalition’s victory in today’s confidence vote, moved in the wake of a week of upheaval following protests and blockades over fuel prices.
“It’s never good to lose a minister obviously… but the vote speaks for itself and we won the confidence motion by 14 votes.”
Both spokespersons said they were not aware of any efforts to shore up Healy-Rae’s support for the government, pointing out that he had posted on social media the terms of a €505 million package of cost of living supports agreed over the weekend, and that he had been part of the coalition’s negotiating team that met industry groups when these supports were being developed.
Asked whether Healy-Rae had extracted an outsized price from the government for his 15 months of participation in the coalition, especially on roads, the Government’s spokesman said: “He was a member of the government like everyone else, these roads weren’t just for the benefit of Michael Healy Rae, they were for the benefit of the people of Kerry and the governments commitment to roads funding is as was stated by the minister for transport.”
The spokespersons would not be drawn on his handling of what they characterised as a “personal decision” by Healy-Rae.
“It’s not for me to comment on how he’s handled it. He’s handled it how he’s handled it,” said a government spokesman.
‘You’ve bowed to the pressure of populists,’ says Green Party leader
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has accused the Government of “crossing the rubicon” and demonstrating that “the carbon tax is negotiable,” reports Parliamentary Correspondent Marie O’Halloran.
He said “you’ve bowed to the pressure of populists”.
Following the motion of confidence debate, the House is currently discussing the €500 million financial package of supports announced at the weekend.
O’Gorman said there had been a coalition across Government that took difficult decisions against “populist emotions”.
That coalition “recognised sometimes in this House, we need to genuinely look towards the long term and not just towards the next election”.
But he said Government had through its financial resolutions, “smashed that coalition. You’ve bowed to the pressure of populists.”
He said the carbon tax only brings in one per cent of the State’s income tax.
“Now you’ve demonstrated that the carbon tax is negotiable - you’ve demonstrated that when pressure is applied, you’ll bend.”
He asked “how can we expect to see the next increase take place in October? Because the people who blocked public transport, the people who prevented workers from moving, they’re watching.
“They know that you cracked in April, you’ll crack again in October. A rubicon has been crossed today, and you’ve lost the argument for us all.”
‘The Healy-Raes always gauge what they think is right,’ says Michael Healy-Rae
Michael Healy-Rae has explained his decision to resign, reports Political Editor Pat Leahy.
“Over the last number of days I met with a lot of people … and the people of Kerry were telling me that they weren’t happy with the way the Government were going. They felt that leadership wasn’t listening to them,” he told journalists outside Leinster House.
“The people of Kerry, they asked me to go into Government. But then they were saying that this Government had lost its way, they weren’t listening.”
He said that he had secured a lot of the people of Kerry and he was sure that other commitments for Kerry “will be honoured”.
Asked if Micheál Martin was the right man to lead the country, he said: “The people of Ireland will decide that in the future.”
Pressed, he said he had “grave reservations, and that’s why I did what I did today”.
He said he would not vote against the Government in the future as a matter of routine , but would judge each issue on its merits. He said he would vote with the Government this evening on the package of fuel measures.
He said he was not bounced into the decision to quit by his brother Danny. “Absolutely not,” he said.
“The Healy-Raes always gauge what they think is right.”
Minister for Agriculture regrets ‘decision of Michael Healy Rae to resign from Government’
In a statement, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said that he regretted the “decision of Michael Healy Rae to resign from Government,” reports Political Correspondent Ellen Coyne.
“He was a dedicated colleague and I want to recognise his contribution, particularly to the forestry sector, horticulture and farm safety. I want to thank him for his support during his time in the department and I wish him well.”
Danny Healy-Rae also votes against Government
Danny Healy-Rae, who also voted against the Government with his brother, said that he knew on Tuesday morning that the independent agricultural minister would not back the Government, reports Political Correspondent Ellen Coyne.
“I fairly well did,” Healy-Rae told RTE Radio 1’s Drivetime.
“We usually do the same thing all the time, and you can look back on our record voting in the Dáil.”
Healy-Rae said that neither brother lobbied the other either way. “No one of us tried to make the other fella do anything.”
When asked about a social media video that appeared to show an angry Kerry constituent confronting him during the fuel protests, Healy-Rae said he laid the blame with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
“I blame the leader more so than anyone else, because every time he spoke, he threw petrol at the flames, a gallon of petrol on the flames I’d say. And petrol was scarce, and petrol was dear. But he was doing harm every time he spoke.”
Latest update from Northern Ireland on fuel protests
Northern Editor, Freya McClements has the latest on the fuel protests in Northern Ireland.
This was the picture just before 5.30pm, according to the Department of Infrastructure’s TrafficWatchNI:
- Sydenham ByPass Started at 11:20. Cleared at 13:00.
- A12 Westlink Started at 14:05. Cleared at 14:20.
- M2 Hill Section City Bound towards J2 Greencastle Started at 14:10. Cleared at 14:20.
- Nutts Corner RBT Started at 14:25. PSNI removed from RBT Vehicles to Tully Rd. Vehicles caused disruption on Tully Rd (towards the International Airport)
- Upper N’ards Rd citybound started at 14:40 (at Rosepark) Three tractors driving go / slow.
Just before 4pm delays were reported on the A1 Hillsborough Road roundabout northbound, and at the Ballygawley roundabout in Co Tyrone, on the approaches from the Annaghillia Road and Tullyvar Road.
In the Greater Belfast area, it said traffic was “light with no reports of any incidents or delays at this time.”
Posts on social media had called for protests against the cost of fuel to take place in multiple locations across Northern Ireland from 2pm on Tuesday.
Minister for Agriculture thanks Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae for his work
Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, paid brief tribute to Michael Healy-Rae, a junior minister in his department until this afternoon, thanking him for his work and saying he had been a “good colleague for the last 15 months,” reports Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones
Heydon said it was his job to fight for and defend agriculture. “I do this in my department and at cabinet”, he said, adding that the Government recognises the vital role played by the sector, with the vulnerability of the sector to a massive energy shock having “greatly concerned all”.
Heydon said the Government had approved substantial supports, including cutting excise on green or agricultural diesel.
“Energy shocks without support would lead to significant inflation, especially food inflation,” Heydon said.
He said there was a choice to make - to dismiss or ignore supports and try to prevent their introduction or to engage with Government and his department.
Independent TD Michael Lowry criticises Government’s response to fuel protests
Independent TD Michael Lowry, who supports the Government sharply criticised its response to last week’s protests, reports Parliamentary Correspondent Marie O’Halloran.
He said all those across Government “failed to respond effectively in a timely fashion. failed to listen and understand the extent of people’s worry and frustration.
But he said peaceful protests was “later infiltrated by undesirables, whose only agenda was to cripple the country and bring down the Government.”
The Tipperary TD sharply criticised Sinn Féin “and others on the left” he said they had “inflamed” a very volatile situation.
Lowry claimed they wanted to “cause the country further suffering in a point scoring exercise against the Government.
To loud interventions, he described Sinn Féin as the most “hollow, cynical destructive, political imposters” he had ever witnessed.
He said while the Government worked for the Irish people Sinn Féin “uses their hardship as a political weapon. They seized at this moment because they have nothing else to offer, only contrived outrage.”
They are performers on the stage. They prove time and again they have no ideas and no ability.”
“In a moment global instability when we need responsibility, and a collective effort, they have chosen division, disruption, and political opportunism.
“To bring down a government at a time like this would have far reaching consequences by the Irish people, legislation was stall, fighting supports would be delayed, and the certainty that families and workers and businesses desperately aid would be thrown into limbo.
“Disruption has been Sinn Féin’s orders up handing from the very beginning of this government. From the day this coalition was formed, they sought to undermine and sabotage it for the sake of their own political advantage.
They’re a group of people who would rather see others failed that build something positive themselves.
He accused the party of following its “usual social media” hit list. “Politicians were named and targeted for the Sinn Féin army of online bots. They were directed to target, to pile on, and to encourage others to mount verbal assaults. Is this what you teach in Sinn Féin?”
He said he had huge respect for Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín but said he “dropped the mask of pious virtue and showed his true colours.
“He egged on frustrated people to harass and intimidate and posted the names and numbers of representatives in our independent group.
“This form of intimidation is not acceptable as the democratic society,” and this kind of “toxic politics does immense damage”.
Minister for Health pays tribute to Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae
Minister for Health, Jennifer Caroll MacNeill, said: “We know we’re more impacted than many others” due to the openness of the economy, reports Political Correspondent Jack-Horgan Jones.
She said that objecting to the development of infrastructure was “long gone”, with a need to invest in energy security.
She paid tribute to healthcare workers who turned up and kept clinics open longer hours. “I embrace protest,” she said, saying she would defend it as a public representative.
“But when protest flips and it steps across something else,” she said, risking delivery of medicines, care and meeting appointments, “that isn’t protest that we enable and embrace,” she said.
“We may now have to face even bigger challenges ahead because of continuing instability in the Middle East,” she said.
She paid tribute to Michael Healy-Rae for his hard work and contribution to the government.
For more on Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, read Current Affairs Editor Arthur Beesley’s article here.
Government wins motion of confidence
The Government has won its motion of confidence by 92 to 78 despite the resignation of Independent Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae, who voted against his former Coalition partners, reports Parliamentary Correspondent Marie O’ Halloran.
Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit Solidarity, Independent Ireland, the Greens, 100 per cent Redress and a number of Independents voted no confidence in the Coalition of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Independents.
Peadar Tóibín calls on all Independents to pull out of Government
Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín, said “There’s absolutely no way that any other Independent TD should be backing this Government at this moment in time.”
“It is time for an election,” he added.
Sinn Féin public expenditure spokeswoman criticises Government for keeping protesters out of talks
Sinn Féin public expenditure spokeswoman Mairead Farrell said “it was the people who went out and said enough was enough”, demand action and say they have no confidence, reports Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.
She accused the Government of failing to talk to the people in their addresses to the Dáil today, saying it had refused to talk, engage, listen or act.
She criticised the Government for keeping protesters out of talks, saying the Government was “putting your chests out and beating the same old drum of how great you are”.
NUJ welcomes Tánaiste’s acceptance that media coverage review not ‘appropriate’
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has welcomed the acceptance by Tánaiste Simon Harris, that a review of media coverage of fuel price protests across Ireland last week would not be “appropriate,” it said in a statement.
Yesterday, Minister for Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan said in radio interviews that the independent regulator Coimisiún na Meán should carry out an investigation into coverage by RTÉ and other media organisations of the protests.
The NUJ described the demand for a state-sponsored investigation as “sinister”.
Harris said that he and the government, including O’Donovan, were in favour of media freedom. He disagreed with the need for a formal review of media coverage and accepted that the function of media regulation is a matter for the independent regulator.
He said, “Of course, at the end of any difficult period, you can look back and say, at a moment a national crisis, can we get information out there? Are there learnings? But I certainly don’t think there’s any need for any sort of formal review. These are matters for Coimisiún na Meáin.”
The Tánaiste said the media “like everybody in the country were doing their best to deal with a fast evolving, very difficult situation” during the protests, and that Ireland had a “robust” and “fair” media.
Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, welcomed Harris’ prompt response.
“The minister’s behaviour across a number of radio stations yesterday was unacceptable. He called into question the professionalism of local and national media journalists,” said Dooley.
“His comments in relation to RTÉ were deeply concerning. While we welcome the statement by his party leader, we would call on Mr O’Donovan to reflect on his statement and to confirm his acceptance of the independent role of the regulator.”
Collins tells Government ‘you’ve lost a Minister’ and ‘two TDs at least’
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins told the Government “you’ve lost a Minister” and “two TDs at least,” reports Parliamentary Correspondent Marie O’Halloran.
Referring to Independent Minister Michael Healy-Rae who announced his resignation in the Dáil he said there is “an honourable Independent over there”.
Criticising Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, he said “there’s another Minister over there and that said, ‘I’ll bring in the Army and we’ll break up’” protests.
He told the Government “you should be ashamed of yourselves” as he described their response to the crisis as a “shambolic disgrace”.
Hitting out at the Government he claimed Ministers failed to respond to constituents who contacted them.
The Cork South-West TD said this lack of response amounted to a failure to listen to constituents.
He called on Independent Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney to support other Independents who raised such concerns.
“Show your face and stand up here with the people that elected you,” he said.
His party colleague Ken O’Flynn paid tribute to Michael Healy-Rae for his resignation.
Healy-Rae singles out Taoiseach for ‘not listening’ to people
In a post on his social media page, Michael Healy-Rae singled out the Taoiseach in particular for “not listening” to people and using an available surplus to do more, reports Political Correspondent Ellen Coyne.
He said that the “fine people” who were protesting over the last week are “the people I adore.”
“I’ve seen grown men crying because they’re worried about their futures, and they feel that this government hasn’t listened to them. They’re feeling particularly that the leader of the country hasn’t listened to them. I’m so sorry for that,” he said.
Healy-Rae said that he felt he had been left with “no choice but to vote no confidence in the government, and its leader, because of the fact that he didn’t listen on time, and there is surpluses there, there is more that could be done.”
Healy-Rae said that he “did everything I could, obviously it wasn’t enough because people weren’t happy.”
He said he chose to resign as he wanted to be a servant to the people of Kerry, rather than a servant of Government. He said “many thousands” of people had asked him to do this, and he was answering that call because “you’re my boss.”
Justice Minister praises Garda response to protests
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan paid tribute to gardaí, who he said “showed outstanding professionalism, commitment and courage” in guaranteeing the safety and security of the State and its citizens.
He said the right to peaceful assembly and disagreement with the Government is a “central right” guaranteed by the Constitution.
However, the right to protest is “not unlimited”. He said gardaí were required to restore public order, and it was a credit to them that they managed to remove blockades without any notable injury to protesters or themselves.
He said he was “concerned about the unacceptable levels of hatred and vitriol” directed against gardaí. It would not be tolerated. — Jack Horgan-Jones
Mattie McGrath unable to vote no confidence for health reasons
Meanwhile, Independent TD Mattie McGrath is in hospital following a procedure and unable to participate in the no confidence vote.
He had supported some of the fuel protesters and attended protests early last week.
“When the vote of no confidence was announced, he had hoped to be discharged in time to attend. However, that has not been possible. On the clear advice of his medical team, he is not in a position to travel,” his team said in a statement.
“We know how disappointing this is for the very many people who were hoping he would make it to cast his vote of no confidence in the Government, and he is disappointed himself to miss such an important vote.” — Sarah Slater
Michael Healy-Rae ‘adored being a Minister’ but resigns as people of Ireland ‘let down’
Announcing his resignation in the Dáil, Michael Healy-Rae said he had listened to protesters and considered himself a “gauge of the people of rural Ireland”.
“Because of the fact that I believe this Government has 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 ... would listen, that they would be kind, that they would be understanding. There are farmers that are really suffering so much at present. There are agricultural contractors that are really suffering, there are people that cried at the protests. And these were workers. These were respectable people,” he said.
He said he told voters he would go into Government “if the opportunity was right and if it was good for the people of Kerry”.
“Now the people of Kerry are telling me that they’re unhappy with this Government. They don’t want to see me or any Healy-Rae support it ... I remember my late father today. He supported governments when things were bad and things were tough. And I asked him last night before I went to bed, I said: ‘What should I do?’ And the feeling that I have is that Government, and the leader in particularly, has not listened. It’s a lesson for people in the future. I adored being a Minister in the Department of Agriculture because I felt I was able to do good and I was passionate about my job.” — Jack Horgan-Jones
Independent TD Micheal Healy-Rae, a Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, has told the Dáil he is resigning from the Government and voting no confidence in it.
He said the people of Kerry are no longer happy with the Government. — Pat Leahy, Political Editor
Government not listening, say Social Democrats
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns accused the Government of not listening to the Opposition, its backbenchers or the Irish people. She argued the State has resources to provide meaningful support but instead “wasted countless billions” and failed to deliver infrastructure.
“Life in this country has become totally unaffordable for an ever-increasing number of people,” she said.
The cost of groceries, energy and housing has all “skyrocketed with no end in sight”. The energy crisis is a “tipping point” and the fuel protests an expression of that, the Cork South West TD said.
Her party colleague Cian O’Callaghan, deputy leader, said Ministers should have pursued a strategy of de-escalation last week, but instead “decided to fan the flames”.
Of the Minister for Justice, he said: “GI Jim O’Callaghan arrived from the scene, thinking that he was Rambo.” This approach was the last thing the country needed, he said. — Jack Horgan-Jones/ Marie O’Halloran
Half of fuel pump spend is taxes, says Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin’s finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the Government “doesn’t have the confidence of ordinary people” and “doesn’t listen.
He said more than half of the spend at fuel pumps is “taken away in taxes”, yet the Government “refuses” to make fuel prices affordable. He said there was “no action” on home heating oil prices and “no meaningful support” for households or rural communities.
His colleague Matt Carthy said his party is “just the messenger” in tabling the no confidence motion. The message from the public is “loud and clear ... you’ve lost the trust of the people”, he said.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the Coalition has ignored “small businesses, farmers, contractors, bus drivers, hauliers and virtually everyone else”. — Marie O’Halloran, Parliamentary Correspondent
Ireland could respond to fuel crisis because of strong economy, say Ministers
Two Cabinet Ministers have sought to emphasise the Government’s economic credentials as enabling the supports announced in recent weeks, writes Jack Horgan-Jones.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers told the Dáil no country has been able to respond “on the scale we have been able to”.
“The reason Ireland is uniquely placed ... is because of the strength of our economy and our public finances,” he said.
Minister for Housing James Browne said that even events far away geographically have a “very immediate impact”, in part due to “our status as an open economy on the edge of Europe”.
“We have the resources due to the stewardship of this Government ... We have been in a position to act and indeed act decisively”.
The day so far
Good news for commuters and other motorists; Transport Infrastructure Ireland says there are currently no delays across the motorway network.
Fuel package had been under ‘constant review’, says Minister
Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney said the Government has been “constructively involved in the process from the beginning”, writes Marie O’Halloran, Parliamentary Correspondent.
He said that when the initial €250 million package was introduced, the Government pledged to keep the situation “under constant review”.
Engagement and dialogue continues with stakeholders and representative groups, he said.
They would ensure the additional measures would benefit these key sectors within the economy.
Stressing the package is the highest per capita in the EU, he said that in the past week “we have seen some members of the Opposition actively encourage obstruction, which is not acceptable”.
He said key infrastructure was placed under threat. “This does not help anybody. We need to work together in these unprecedented times.”
Government ‘incapable of handling crisis situations’, says Bacik
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the Government was “worn out”, “zoned out” and “incapable of handling crisis situations”.
She said the Coalition “could and should have acted more swiftly” to address the protests and blockades last week, but it was focused instead on policies that showed it was “out of touch”.
While grocery inflation hit 6 per cent, Tánaiste Simon Harris was on a media blitz talking about his new savings and investment plan, and the Taoiseach was “ruminating on inheritance tax”.
She said the package of supports was designed to “placate sectoral interests, effectively abandoning PAYE workers”.
The Government’s response was “dithering” and laden with “mixed messages”, accusing Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan of rushing to get the news out that the Army was being called without having consulted with the Minister for Defence.
She criticised Minister for Communications Patrick O’Donovan’s call for an investigation into media coverage of the events, saying it was a case of: “Goodbye Viktor Orban, Hello Patrick O’Donovan.” – Jack Horgan-Jones
Government actions ‘inflamed’ situation, says McDonald
The Government’s actions last week served “only to inflame an already desperate situation,” Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has told the Dáil.
Speaking during the motion of confidence in the Government brought about by her party in the wake of fuel protests and blockades over the Easter break, McDonald said the Coalition “abandoned the Irish people”. She accused it of “arrogance”, having a “lack of empathy” and “lack of judgment”, which compounded chaos on international energy markets.
“You pretended everything was fine while people knew it was anything but that,” she said, adding that people were “rationing heat” in their homes, deciding which rooms to heat.
She told the Government: “When ordinary decent people raised their voice, you turned your back”, adding that the Coalition “escalated the situation” and “threatened people, including talk of sending in the Army”.
“Just know that beyond your bubble, people see a Government that’s out of touch.” – Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones
No confidence motion another Sinn Féin ‘stunt’, says Tánaiste
Tánaiste Simon Harris hit out at Sinn Féin, claiming their motion of no confidence “is just another one of their stunts”.
He said they had decided on a no-confidence motion “before they ever saw the details of the Government’s package of supports, which is far more comprehensive and strategically responsive than anything they have proposed”.
He said that if they were successful with their motion, the “financial resolutions which we will pass in this House would fall away and the measures the Government agreed over the weekend would not be delivered to the hard-pressed people they purport to represent”.
The Tánaiste said that “at moments like this, it always becomes abundantly clear that we have an opposition which has no shortage of spending plansbut no strategy for growth.
“No thought is ever given to howthey would fund their endless spending commitments.
“For a week, the airwaves were filled with those who shout the loudest, and command the most attention online.”
He said “it is easy to mistake that volume for consensus. Yet, beneath the noise was the cancer patient who couldn’t get to their chemo, the expectant mother who didn’t get to their check-up and the man who didn’t get to his dialysis appointment.” – Marie O’Halloran
The Taoiseach said the €505 million in supports is a “comprehensive package” that was “not about helping special interest groups”.
Micheál Martin said “we all depend on transport, food production college, fisheries and other fuel intensive industries and that is why we are implementing specific measures tailored to these critical areas”.
He said the supports Germany and Poland were offering are “roughly 90 per cent lower” than the Irish package. And for Northern Ireland “the actions taken by the Executive and the British government combined are a fraction of what we are implementing”.
Speaking about the protests of last week, he said everyone 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 people”.
The Taoiseach said there were “many extreme groups” that claim to speak on behalf of the people “without ever securing the support of the people”.
It was standard practice for them to shout in the streets that they are the “real people of Ireland” and those in the Dáil are the “elites”. Parliamentary democracy is “something we should all affirm and defend”, he added. – Marie O’Halloran
Opposition claims ‘manifestly untrue’, says Taoiseach
Opening the motion of confidence debate, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Opposition claims “nothing has been done to help people, that other countries are helping more and that the Government could easily sort out everything”.
He said this is “manifestly untrue and directly ignores the fact that we are implementing significant action, that this goes beyond anything being done elsewhere and that the core concern pushing up oil prices is an international conflict”.
The Taoiseach hit out at a claim by Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy that the Government “is the biggest profiteer” and that “budget coffers were being swelled”.
That was “flat out untrue,” he insisted. The Government is spending “dramatically more on measures to help people with fuel costs than it is receiving in extra taxes”.
The previous measures were costing close to €28 million a week, while the additional revenue has averaged €4 million.
He also insisted that Ireland has proportionately “the largest assistance package of any European country”. The closest any country comes is Spain where the support package “is over a quarter smaller”. – Marie O’Halloran
The Dáil had its first vote of the day, with the House voting 93 to76 in favour of skipping Leaders’ Questions and going straight to a motion of confidence, writes Marie O’Halloran, Parliamentary Correspondent.
Sinn Féin chief whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said “arrogance and entitlement seems to be the attitude of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael” for failing to stick to its original schedule.
Labour’s Duncan Smith said “it’s utterly unacceptable” after three weeks that they would not have Leaders’ Questions, Taoiseach’s questions and questions on policy and legislation.
Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said the Dáil’s agenda has been obliterated to “minimise the Opposition’s chance to question you about what happened last week”.
Government Chief Whip Mary Butler said it was normal practice for the Government to put a motion of confidence.
The Coach Tourism and Transport Council (CTTC) of Ireland has said it is not involved in any proposed strike action by bus and coach operators.
It said some recent media reports reference a planned coach strike.
“The CTTC’s agreed position is to continue to engage in a constructive and focused way with the key decision-makers responsible for these issues, including the Minister for Transport and Government officials, who we are meeting with today,” it said.
The council believes it is important the sector’s concerns are addressed through “structured dialogue”.
As the Dáil begins the confidence vote in the Government arising out of the fuel protests, the streets around Leinster House have been closed off.
There were some expectation that protesters would try to get tractors and heavy vehicles near Kildare Street and Merrion Street but none have materialised.
At present, there is a small number of protesters gathered at the barricade on Molesworth Street, some with tricolours. – Harry McGee
Slow-moving tractors on a main road close to Belfast City Airport are causing traffic disruption in advance of planned fuel protests in Northern Ireland, writes Northern Correspondent Seanín Graham.
The convoy drove along the Sydenham bypass on city-bound lanes this morning before turning on to country bound lanes.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland issued a statement at lunchtime advising of delays on the bypass for country-bound motorists.
Road users have been advised by police to avoid the route if possible and leave extra time for their journey.
Social media posts have called for similar fuel protests at locations across the North.
They are due to begin on Tuesday at 2pm.
Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has urged people not to block roads and said “disruption threatens life”.
The Education Authority has said it is keeping the situation “under close review”.
Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport have advised passengers to give themselves extra time for their journey.
In a statement, The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service asked people to ensure emergency service vehicles “are not impeded by any protests”.
Sinn Féin responds to photograph showing its Senator with a senior figure in fuel protests
Sinn Féin has said its public representatives were not responsible for the views and opinions of people with whom they are photographed, political correspondent Harry McGee reports.
The party was responding to a photograph showing its Co Laois Senator Maria McCormack with Christopher Duffy, who was a prominent figure in the fuel protests.
Duffy, a Meath-based agricultural contractor, has made some incendiary comments on his social media platform about immigration.
He was pictured with McCormack at a public meeting about fuel prices held in Portlaoise in late March.
Some of his social media comments have been widely criticised, especially one referring to climate activist Greta Thunberg.
In a 2025 post, he said about her: “I could care less if she got raped or beaten and I make no apologies for saying that.”
At a protest against an Ipas centre in Kells last year, he contended that children might not be safe because there were men coming into Ireland whose countries allowed girls to be married at the age of 10.
He was one of the main speakers at the Portlaoise meeting two weeks ago where he declared: “They’re waving free Palestine flags. Well by the time we’re finished with them, they’ll be waving free Dublin flags.”
A Sinn Féin spokesman said during the recent protests party representatives have been photographed with thousands of participants.
“Most are ordinary workers, hauliers, farmers and local business people,” he said.
“Clearly, we are not responsible for every view and opinion that any of those people may hold.
“Our position in respect of combating misogyny, racism and supporting the Palestinian people is clear.”
Fuel protests spread to Northern Ireland
A slow-moving convoy of tractors has caused traffic disruption in Belfast as several fuel protests are due to be held in Northern Ireland.
The traffic disruption took place near Belfast City Airport, hours after the airport warned passengers there may be traffic issues and to leave more time to travel to the airport.
Social media posts have called for similar fuel protests to those that disrupted traffic and fuel supplies in the Republic to be held at several locations in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly last week wrote to UK prime minister Keir Starmer urging him to bring forward a package of support measures for people in the North.
People Before Profit and Labour to vote against Government
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said his party will be voting no confidence in the Government “over its absolutely abysmal failure to address the cost-of-living crisis that is crushing people and that provoked the protests that we’ve seen over the last week”.
Cormac McQuinn reports that Boyd Barrett accused the Coalition of a “disgraceful handling” of the protests with the use of “heavy-handed tactics”.
He also said that the “big lesson” from the protests was that “people power works” and the trade union movement, community organisations and the Opposition needs to mobilise over crises over the cost-of-living and housing.
“We take today as an acid test for some Independents, as to whether they are genuinely independent and standing on the side of ordinary people in this country, or whether they are Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in disguise, as quite a few of them have shown themselves to be,” Boyd Barrett said.
Paul Murphy and Ruth Coppinger defended the disruptive nature of the protests.
Murphy of People Before Profit claimed the new fuel support measures announced by Government would not have happened without the protests. “Having disruptive protests ... forced the Government to give concessions.”
He said the previous anti-water charges protests were disruptive as are strikes when they happen. He said there was public support for the fuel protests.
Coppinger, a Solidarity TD, said “we have to cop on here” asking how people won the right to join trade unions and women win rights.
“You have to take disruptive civil disobedience action. That’s what wins results,” she said.
Meanwhile, Labour TD Ciarán Ahern said his party has never had confidence in the Coalition, claiming it is “a populist right-wing government led by the nose by a bunch of Independents who have no ideology” or “national vision”.
His party colleague Ged Nash said the package of supports announced by Government “did nothing” for PAYE workers who are “suffering in silence” and do not have the ability to blockade ports and cause the kind of disruption caused last week.
Motorists warned not to expect fuel prices to fall immediately
Motorists have been warned not to expect fuel prices on forecourts to fall immediately or simultaneously, but they have been assured that the 10 cent excise cut that takes effect from midnight to will feed through in the days ahead, our consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope reports.
Kevin McPartlan, chief executive of Fuels for Ireland, the umbrella group representing the sector said that he understood motorists would want to see the excise reduction reflected at the pump as quickly as possible but he added that it was “important to say that this may not happen at every forecourt immediately, and that should not be misunderstood as a failure to pass on the tax cut.”
He said the reason why there might be some delays was “practical”.
“Excise is applied when fuel leaves a terminal or refinery, not when it is sold at the pump. In recent days, the industry has been operating under disrupted conditions, and the priority has been to keep fuel moving and forecourts supplied where possible,” McPartlan said.
The impact of that means some of the fuel arriving at sites in the immediate aftermath of the change will still have left facilities at the old excise rate.
“That means there may be limited movement at some pumps immediately after the new rate takes effect from midnight,” he said. “The reduction is coming through, but there will be a lag as lower-duty fuel works its way through the system.”
He said that while some busy fuel forecourts may update quickly “others it may take 48 to 72 hours, with the overwhelming majority expected to reflect the lower rate by the weekend.”
He noted that international wholesale fuel prices are continuing to move independently of tax changes and warned the volatility “may reduce some of the visible impact at the pump in the short term.”
Opposition parties hold press conferences in advance of the motion of confidence
Opposition parties are holding press conferences at Leinster House in advance of the motion of confidence in the Government later, Cormac McQuinn reports.
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman criticised the Government over its handling of the fuel protests and said his party will vote against the Government’s motion of confidence in itself.
He claimed Coalition of caused “confusion” and “raised tensions” amid the protests and that it “ultimately failed to protect the Irish people’s ability to go about their daily lives.”
He also hit out at aspects of the financial package announced by Government saying that ring-fenced funding for retrofitting and social welfare payments was being put at risk by cuts to carbon tax.
He said a key question in the upcoming debate is will Ireland “break our addiction to fossil fuels”.
Peadar Tóibín of Aontú claimed the country has been “brought to the brink” by the Government, adding that petrol stations have not run dry since the 1980s and he has not seen such political stress since water charges protests.
He argued there are “major questions” over the leadership of Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
He said the Opposition must put “maximum pressure” on the Government and suggested that Independents that back the Coalition have a “moral responsibility to represent the people in their constituencies rather than standing with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael”.
He appealed to independents Michael Healy-Rae, Danny Healy-Rae, Gillian Toole and Barry Heneghan to vote against the Government in the confidence motion later.
He also criticised Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan over his plan to raise concerns about the fairness and balance of some media coverage of the protests with regulator Coimisiún na Meán, the Media Commission.
Tóibín claimed this would be an “abuse” of his position and O’Donovan had “overstepped the mark”.
Blockades around critical infrastructure were not anticipated, Taoiseach says
The blockades of critical infrastructure including the country’s only oil refinery were not anticipated, the Taoiseach has said.
Speaking to reporters before Cabinet, Micheál Martin said he was looking forward to debates in the Dáil parliament on the Government’s response to the fuel crisis – which will include a confidence motion.
He said: “We’ve responded more substantively than most Governments across Europe, and we will continue, obviously, to keep the broader economic situation under review, to support vital sectors that keep jobs going and keep the economy going itself – and also we will ensure that vital critical infrastructure is protected.”
Asked about the protests, Martin said: “The blockade, certainly as a tactic, was not something that was anticipated.”
He added that the approach of the blockaders, which limited oil refining, did not make sense.
The Taoiseach said ministers “accept fully” the rights to protest and freedom of assembly, contending these had not been undermined by the policing response to fuel blockades.
“There’s always a balance, and one has to distinguish between the blockading of absolutely critical national infrastructure and protest.”
The Government understands “fully” that people are under “very significant pressure” on fuel costs, the Taoiseach said.
“That’s why we extended the fuel allowance, that’s why we brought in the €250 million package three weeks ago only.
“What concerned us, though, was the volatility around the war, and we were very concerned about the supply side as well, and we had meetings last week on making sure we would have sufficiency of energy supplies for the country, for workers and for the economy to keep us going over the next year.”
Kildare Street and Molesworth Street in Dublin city centre are closed to traffic, Cormac McQuinn reports. Gardaí are anticipating protests during the Dáil debate later today.
No need for review into RTÉ coverage of protests, says Tánaiste
There is no need for “any sort of formal review” into RTÉ’s coverage of fuel protests, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the comments by Minister for Communications and Media Patrick O’Donovan, in which he called for a review into RTÉ coverage by the media regulator, were “sinister and deeply disturbing”.
Asked about the NUJ position, Harris said he was supportive of freedom of the media and added: “Of course, at the end of any difficult period, you can look back and say at a moment a national crisis ‘how do we get information out there, are there learnings?’ But I certainly don’t think there’s any need for any sort of formal review.”
“We have, in this country, a free media, we have a robust media, and I think we have a fair media.”
Pressed on whether he agreed with his Fine Gael colleague’s suggestion that coverage had been skewed in favour of protesters, Harris said: “I think the media, like everybody in this country, were doing their best to deal with a fast-evolving and very difficult situation.”
Further fuel protest planned for Carlow on Saturday
A further fuel protest is planned to take place in Carlow town on Saturday, Sarah Slater reports.
Organisers want a peaceful march to start at the Four Lakes Retail Park at 2pm and make its way to the Liberty Tree in the centre of the town.
Independent Ireland councillor John Cassin has called on members of the public to “stand with us for fair fuel prices”.
Some service stations across Carlow and Kilkenny are still without fuel while others are restricting the amount of petrol and diesel they can buy.
Independent TD Barry Heneghan to back the Government in Dáil confidence motion
Dublin Bay North Independent Barry Heneghan confirmed he will back the Government in the Dáil confidence motion later. He told The Irish Times: “Nothing is ever perfect and you always have to work with what you have for the best outcome.
“A no-confidence vote would set us back much and a lot of people who the Opposition are pushing for don’t know that none of the financial measures from this second package will pass if the Government were to fall.”
He added: “In my opinion we need to be focused the main lesson to be taken from the past week – it’s energy independence ... we are still a petrostate when we have the potential in our ORE [offshore renewables] and solar to produce so much [energy].”
Heneghan also said: “I am working on my Private Wires Bill [on electricity connections] that will help the Irish people and I cannot do that without a functioning government.”
‘No one in this country has the right to make themselves a self-appointed warden,’ Tánaiste says of protesters
Protesters cannot make their point “to the detriment of someone else’s wellbeing”, Tánaiste Simon Harris said.
Harris said he fundamentally believed in the rights of protest but had “significant concerns around the blocking of oil refineries”, PA reports.
He added: “I draw the line between protesting and other activities that – in the words of An Garda Síochána – were illegal, like blocking the mobility of people.
“Nobody in this country has the right to make themselves a self-appointed warden. No one in this country has the right to decide whether you or I can move freely.”
Harris said Government had initially brought a €250 million package of supports but further actions were required – resulting in €505 million in additional measures.
Speaking to reporters before Cabinet and a Dáil confidence motion in the Government, he said: “Today, though, is about moving on with the job in terms of delivering stable Government that can work on the people’s priorities.”
Every measure taken on energy costs has a benefit in managing inflation, Harris said.
Asked whether the €755 million in measures represented the maximum of what Government could do, he said the approach had always been to “take this step by step”.
“We always said we would need to come back sector by sector and look at key areas of the economy, including supply chains.
“What I would say to the public at large when they say ‘is there something in this for me?’ This is actually about everybody. It’s about the country, it’s about keeping the country’s economy secure, it’s about keeping the country functioning, it’s about keeping supply chains working, it’s about keeping food on the shelves in supermarkets”.
TII not aware of any fuel price protests on network today
All incidents showing as red “incidents” on the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) map are “standard congestion”, a spokesperson has said, and TII is not aware of any fuel price protests on the network today.
Owen Reidy, the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, has claimed there is a “hierarchy of rights” in the State, Vivienne Clarke reports.
“When trade unions take industrial action, we have to ballot for action, we have to serve seven days’ notice. If we don’t do that, we can be injuncted. It seems farmers and small business people can do whatever they want. So we’re not going to tolerate that any more,” he told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland.
“It seems that if you shout the loudest, you succeed. This isn’t just last week. We’ve seen this with the hospitality sector, where they effectively shook the Government down for a reduction in VAT that’s not necessary. It’s not going to protect any jobs. It’s just going to increase the profits of that industry.
“And last week, we’ve heard of ordinary decent people mounting blockades. Now, I remember when ordinary decent people who are members of Mandate Trade Union protested when Debenhams left them high and dry. I remember pictures of gardaí carrying women away from a protest because they breached Covid rules. There’s a hierarchy of rights in the State.”
Minister of State Timmy Dooley rejected that claim and said that the Government had engaged with those most affected by the increase in fuel prices.
“We’ve been doing that now for a number of weeks. And we continue to engage with representative bodies through the weekend to develop a package which was announced on Sunday.”
The Government acted to introduce efforts that benefited everyone, he said.
Political correspondent Ellen Coyne looks at the political fallout of the fuel protests and whether the Government measures will placate the protesters, in this video:
National Union of Journalists describes Minister’s call for review of fuel protests as ‘sinister’
The National Union of Journalists has described as “sinister and deeply disturbing” the call by the Minister for Media and Communications Patrick O’Donovan for a Coimisiún na Meán review of media coverage of the recent nationwide fuel protests.
NUJ assistant general secretary Séamus Dooley said he found the Minister’s comments “sinister and deeply disturbing”.
“The Media Minister is not a bystander but is in a position to influence the allocation of funds, the approval of commercial radio licenses and overall policy on broadcasting,” he said.
“It is not his role to dictate to the independent regulator or to apply pressure on media organisations.”
Our political correspondent Ellen Coyne has the full story here.
Danny Healy-Rae is yet to reveal how he will vote in today’s confidence motion, telling The Irish Times this morning that he will make this known “in the [Dáil] Chamber”, Cormac McQuinn reports.
Gardaí advise public to allow extra travel time, as ‘exceptional event’ remains in place
“The vast majority of routes are fully open. The public are advised to plan their journey before travelling and allow extra travel time,” the Garda has said in a statement.
Those using public transport should check with their operators in case of diversions or disruptions.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly last week declared an “exceptional event”, which gives a commissioner the power to cancel annual leave for Garda members and places public order-trained gardaí on alert. This is allowable if there is a threat to State security.
Gardaí said the exceptional event remains in place at this time.
Green Party deputy leader describes Minister seeking review of press coverage of fuel protests as ‘chilling’
Green Party deputy leader Hazel Chu has criticised the Minister for Communications for seeking a review of press and broadcast coverage of last week’s fuel protests and blockades as “chilling”, Sarah Slater reports.
Patrick O’Donovan said on Monday he would be asking communications watchdog Coimisiún na Meán to review media coverage, including coverage from RTÉ.
Speaking on several local radio stations, he said he had received phone calls to his constituency office from members of the public outlining how they were against the blockades but agreed with the protests.
He pointed out that he “never heard the voices” of those who “disagreed” with the blockades.
The Minister outlined he would be asking Coimisiún na Meán to examine whether media coverage was “balanced” or “skewed”.
Chu noted that Sinn Féin once called for RTÉs coverage to be investigated and Fine Gael called it “chilling and Fine Gael TDs came out against it”.
Chu said that by the same logic, “the current Minister stating he’ll be asking Coimisiún na Meán to review the coverage by RTÉ of the recent blockade is also chilling. I hope the same Fine Gael TDs who were scandalised before will also be calling out their own Minister now.”
Government poised to face a motion of no confidence over handling of fuel protests
Politicians return to Leinster House today after the Easter break with the Government poised to face down a Sinn Féin motion of no confidence tabled over its handling of the fuel protests and blockades, our political correspondent Cormac McQuinn reports.
In what will be the big political set piece of the Dáil, the Coalition will table its own motion of confidence in itself, which is ultimately what will be voted on this afternoon.
Expect much shouting and roaring about the rights and wrongs of how the Government dealt with the protests – and its fresh €505 million package of fuel supports (on top of the €250 million in measures previously announced) – as the day proceeds.
There is broad support among the Opposition parties for the Sinn Féin motion.
Ultimately, the Coalition should comfortably win the confidence motion when it comes to a vote in the Dáil.
However, it may be worth watching how some Independents who generally support the Government vote.
Some reporting by RTÉ suggests Gillian Toole, Barry Heneghan and Danny Healy-Rae are still making up their minds.
The confidence motion is due to be debated in the Dáil at 2:20pm.
Incidents on M8 and M18 cleared
“Incidents” listed earlier on the map provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), on both the M8 and M18, have now cleared, the map shows. It was unclear whether these incidents were linked to the fuel protests.
Go-slow truckers to be arrested if fuel protests continue
Fuel protesters who block roads or engage in go-slows on motorways will be forcibly stopped, detained and their vehicles towed away. The moves have been set out under a pro-arrest strategy to deal with lingering disruption since last weekend.
Garda sources said the protest movement was so fluid and disjointed, with no clear leadership or even central group, that further disruption could occur in any part of the country in the days or weeks to come.
They added any further disruption on the roads would result in go-slow truckers on motorways being stopped for endangerment and arrested. This would be carried out by gardaí in vehicles, backed by members of the Public Order Unit.
Concern radicalised fuel protesters may attack politicians
Garda protection is being stepped up around senior politicians, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, due to fears they will be targeted amid public anger following fuel protests over the past week.
There are concerns that some of those involved have become radicalised and will seek to publicly confront senior politicians.
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and Minister for Defence Helen McEntee were also outspoken against those involved in blockades. The Garda’s efforts to ensure their safe passage countrywide will involve added security and deeper planning.
Dublin Bus, Luas operating normally, ‘incidents’ on M7, M8 and M18
Dublin Bus and the Luas operator said they are operating full services on Tuesday morning. A map provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland shows “incidents” on the M7, M8 and M18, but it is unclear whether these are linked to the fuel protests.
