A Clare Independent TD has indicated he’ll vote no confidence in the Government next week.
Sinn Fein will meet this meet tomorrow morning to decide if the party will go ahead with a vote of no-confidence, after the Government lost its technical majority in the Dáil last night.
Last evening, the government lost it’s technical Dáil majority, following a vote on the revised Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme.
Fine Gael TD and former Education Minister Joe McHugh voted against the Bill and subsequently resigned the party whip.
It follows criticism from the Clare Pyrite Action Group and other action groups across the country that legislation was being ‘rammed through’ the Dáil before the Summer recess, without giving adequate time to debate the 80 amendments affected homeowners are calling for.
Last night’s events mean the Government has just 79 votes to 80 on the opposition benches.
While McHugh and others like exiled Greens Neasa Hourigan and Patrick Costello may vote with the Government from the opposition benches, it leaves the coalition very tight on votes ahead of the budget.
A motion of no confidence in the government is expected to be filed next week by Sinn Fein.
Scariff Independent Deputy Michael McNamara says he will be voting no confidence in the government for three reasons – failure to address ongoing overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick, the delayed transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to Clare County Council control and rushing the Mica Redress scheme through the Dáil.
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Mountshannon Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley remains optimistic but but believes there’s a need for caution when it comes to budget.
