Government to face no confidence motion over fuel costs

Ireland’s largest opposition party will call a motion of no confidence in the Government after a week of major protests over the fuel crisis.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party had met on Sunday morning and had decided to move the motion.

Several of those engaged in protests – which involved blockades of critical infrastructure and severe disruption to the motorway network that strangled fuel distribution in the country – had sought such a move.

The Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Independent Ireland have said they would back the motion, while Labour and the Greens – while heavily criticising the Government – said they would consider the text before making a decision.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said his party had asked other leaders to join together for a no-confidence motion on Saturday.

Minister of State Timmy Dooley said the Government would set out how its response best “met the needs and expectations of society”.

He told RTE Radio One’s This Week: “There’s no government anywhere in the world that’s going to be able to respond to all of the negative impacts as a result of the war in Iran, and the impact that that has had on the supply of goods, the supply of oil and the spiraling cost.

“What we have to try to do is manage our way through that.”

The protesters wanted Government to take urgent action to reduce fuel and other operating costs for businesses in the transport and agricultural sectors.

Ministers in the coalition held an emergency Cabinet meeting on Sunday to sign off on a “substantial” package following talks with established representative bodies – which excluded the protesters.

Over Saturday and Sunday, An Garda Siochana escalated its enforcement of the protests and deployed Public Order Units to clear blockades at an oil refinery, a depot in Galway, and a main road in Dublin city centre.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael formed a coalition with the support of several independent TDs which represent rural constituencies.

Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the Dublin blockade, called for a no confidence motion and said “the power lies with” rural TDs and independents “propping up the Government”.

Ms McDonald criticised the coalition Government and said: “The actions of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and independents have been disastrous.

“They have lost the confidence of the public. It is clear that they still are not listening and do not accept the scale of this fuel and cost-of-living crisis.”

Ahead of a Cabinet meeting which is expected to sign off on supports relating to the cost of fuel, Ms McDonald added: “All reports indicate it will be more of the same half-measures from them this evening.

“This is unacceptable. We need the maximum reductions now, as proposed by Sinn Fein weeks ago.”

The party had called for “the maximum action necessary to cut fuel prices so they are affordable for the workers, families and sectors that rely on them”.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the party had repeatedly demanded that the Government introduce a targeted 400-euro energy credit, as well as other support measures to “give people who are really struggling some relief”.

She added: “The Social Democrats have no confidence in this Government’s ability to manage this crisis, and – for that reason – we will support the no confidence motion in them.”

Independent Ireland said: “The handling of the protests has been tone-deaf, condescending and, at times, inflammatory rather than conciliatory.

“For these reasons and many others, we believe this Government has failed and we have no confidence in its ability to continue.”

Labour said it would “consider the motion” but added that it did not believe Government handled the crisis well.

A spokesperson said: “We believe Government acted far too slowly and should have engaged much more swiftly to address the genuine concerns and frustrations being experienced by so many in this cost of living crisis.”

The Green Party also said it would examine the full text of the motion before deciding on a position, but said the Government had handled the crisis “appallingly”.