Government wins Dáil confidence motion by 86 to 55

The Government has won the Dáil confidence motion by 86 votes to 55.

The vote took place after a three-hour debate on the motion moved by the Government in itself and Taoiseach Enda Kenny in response to a motion of no confidence in Mr Kenny moved by Sinn Féin last week.

During the debate, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has launched a strong attack on Sinn Féin, saying the motion of no confidence moved by the party as the latest “Sinn Féin kangaroo court”.

The party had set itself up as a judge and jury, this time of the Taoiseach and the Government, as if Sinn Féin was the only representative of the people, he said.

“Sinn Féin talks about transparency and fairness and new politics and, of course, their Ireland of equals, yet protects their own hard men, some of whom are rapists and child abusers,” he added.

Mr Coveney said Gerry Adams was “a man who claims such loyalty to his cause that he even denies his own involvement in it, demands a new honesty and transparency in politics in his Ireland of equals”.

He accused deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald of turning her back “when challenged to deal with the disgraceful failings of her own party exposed by a brave young woman”.

Tánaiste Joan Burton said she had absolute confidence in the Government and the Taoiseach "because Labour and Fine Gael, working together, have built an economic recovery and are now building the social recovery too".

Ms Burton said that when the Coalition came into office in 2011, an international commentator had described Ireland’s financial situation as “distinctly third world”.

She added: “Now, less than four years later, Ireland is set to record the fastest growth in the eurozone.”

The Government, led by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, took tough decisions in order to save Ireland from the consequences of economic collapse, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said.

“The Taoiseach and the Government held back the threat of disorder and chaos, economic and social chaos as witnessed elsewhere.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out calling a general election next year.

“I have no intention of creating any instability by calling a general election in 2015,’’ he said.

“And my preference for government, after the next election in 2016, is for the continuation of the Coalition that has restored our economic sovereignty, that is the Fine Gael and Labour parties.’’

Mr Kenny said the people had voted the Government into power four years ago, asking it to do four things.

These were to rescue the economy, resuscitate the banks, restore Ireland’s reputation and, above all, get people back to work.

“That time, Ireland was three months from running out of money; the Government faced the prospect of no cash for public services or salaries,’’ he added.

“At the same time, the economy was in freefall.’’

The debate was preceded by a row over the scheduling of today’s Dáil business.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said his party strongly objected to the manner in which the Government had revised business to move a motion of confidence in itself rather than taking the Sinn Féin motion of no confidence in Mr Kenny.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said it was ludicrous that the Water Services Bill, giving effect to the revised water charges, would be debated from 10.55pm to midnight tonight.

One might suspect, he said, that the Bill was being deliberately “buried’’ at midnight, because of tomorrow’s protest.

Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said the confidence motion should be a six-hour debate and proposed that Dáil business be revised to facilitate it.

The Government won the division by 72 votes to 44.

There was a further vote when the Opposition challenged the order for today’s business and the Government won by 70 votes to 43.