Sinn Féin has confirmed that it will table a motion of no confidence in the Government.
It comes after the government lost its overall majority in the House this week, when Donegal TD Joe McHugh's voted against the mica redress scheme.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Sinn Féin agriculture spokesman Matt Carthy said the motion of no confidence will be debated next week.
He rejected claims the move was a waste of Dáil time.
“As the lead opposition party, we have a responsibility - I would argue an obligation - to hold Government to account,” he said.
“To challenge a government that is failing. The Government has been in office two years and if you look at all the big parameters, all the areas people need Government to act and act decisively and in a way that actually delivers for them, Government has been failing.”
Sinn Féin TD @mattcarthy confirmed to Newstalk Breakfast that Sinn Féin will table a motion of no confidence against the government next week, "The government are failing across a myriad of areas that people need the government to be proactive & successful on."
— Newstalk Breakfast (@NTBreakfast) July 8, 2022
Deputy Carthy said the Government is failing in all the areas that matter to people.
“The reason we are doing this is because clearly the government lost their majority this week,” he said.
“More importantly than that, the Government is failing across myriad areas that people, workers, families and citizens need Government to be proactive and successful on.
“The housing crisis has gotten worse under this Government. Rents have increased, property prices have increased, homelessness figures among adults, children and families have all increased.
“Our health services are in disarray. There are 1.3 million people who are currently on waiting lists.
Today we lodge of motion of no confidence in government. This government has lost its parliamentary majority, failed to tackle the cost of living and housing crises. This government is out of touch and out of time. We need a government that puts workers and families first.
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) July 8, 2022
"In terms of the cost-of-living crisis that has turned into a cost-of-living emergency for many families, Government has been far too slow to act and when they have acted, they’ve been far too slow in their approach.
“For all of those reasons and because we believe the Irish people no longer have confidence in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens collaboratively to actually deliver good government, Sinn Féin will be bringing a motion next week to the Dáil.
“We hope that TDs across the spectrum will support that motion of no confidence so that we can begin the process of actually delivering the types of changes that are needed.”
Opposition
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has confirmed to Newstalk that it will support the motion next week.
A spokesperson for the party said they believe it is time for change, adding that it's 'never had confidence in this government to address the serious issues'.
