#WeWantAnElection has been trending on Twitter in Ireland for its third day in a row despite the government surviving its no-confidence vote. The motion of confidence, which was held yesterday, saw the government winning with 85 votes while 66 voted against.
The hashtag started after Sinn Féin tabled a no-confidence motion in the government on foot of Deputy Joe McHugh resigning the Fine Gael party whip, ending the Government coalition's majority in the Dáil. The government now has to depend on independents and others to support them to ensure a majority.
Speaking before the no-confidence vote, Independent TD and Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Catherine Connolly said that she had no confidence in this government nor the previous one. Despite acknowledging that all government deputies “work very hard,” Connolly said that she had no confidence due to “the policies the Government is pushing, which is one of neoliberalism that further intensifies the problems.”
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Speaking on housing policies, Connolly said: “We have now 10,325 people homeless. We are almost approaching the peak. Can one imagine a peak of 10,514 homeless in 2019? Yet, the Government is telling us its policies are working.”
Moving to the trolley crisis, Connolly noted that somebody in Galway was on a trolley for seven days before being given a room. She said that this person was “almost blind” and “on a catheter,” before adding that these cases are repeated in all hospitals.
Finishing her speech, Connolly said: “I am voting against the Government because I believe it is not for the common good. We need a fundamental change in policy demanded by covid and climate change. We cannot persist with the way we are idealising the market. It is creating more and more problems.”
Speaking about the opposition, Minister for Public Expenditure and Public Reform, Michael McGrath said that Sinn Fein’s approach is to “promise everything to everyone, say whatever has to be said to get into government and worry about the consequences afterwards,” before adding, “Delivering the promises being made by Sinn Féin would amount to billions and billions of euro,” he said.
Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald said that change is needed now more than ever. “The Government in those benches is out of touch, clearly out of ideas and now out of time - a Government that is unravelling before our very eyes, which has lost the support of the people, if indeed it ever had it,” she said. McDonald said that it was time to put families and workers first.
Opening the motion, Taoiseach Michael Martin said: “This is a debate between those who believe in tackling problems and those who believe in exploiting them.” The Taoiseach also described Sinn Fein’s approach to politics as “deeply dishonest.”
Speaking to Prime Time host Sarah McInerney on RTÉ One last night, the Taoiseach said: “I think a general election going on every two years isn’t a good thing for a country because it leads to short-term decision making which isn’t good for our people,” before adding that the government needs four to five years to deliver reform and change on climate change, economic development, childcare and education.
Initially trending on Monday, the call for a general election is maintaining momentum with some taking the opportunity to attack the government’s record over the past few years.
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