{"id":26726,"date":"2022-07-11T10:11:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T14:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26726"},"modified":"2022-07-11T11:13:18","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T15:13:18","slug":"chief-whip-confident-government-will-win-confidence-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26726","title":{"rendered":"Chief Whip Confident Government Will Win Confidence Vote"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Jack Chambers called the move a ‘stunt’ by Sinn F\u00e9in and a ‘cynical attempt to pursue their path to power’ (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Government will survive a confidence vote with a \u201cclear majority\u201d on Tuesday, chief whip Jack Chambers has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to RT\u00c9’s Morning Ireland on Monday, he branded the move a \u201cstunt\u201d by Sinn F\u00e9in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked if he is confident the Government has the numbers, Mr Chambers said: \u201cYes, I am. And the Government will reaffirm its majority tomorrow, and there will be a clear margin in favor of the Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a stunt by Sinn F\u00e9in. It\u2019s a cynical and negative attempt purely to undermine the Government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fianna F\u00e1il TD for West Dublin said the public expect \u201cconstructive policies\u201d from their representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe public who are listening here expect constructive politics from everyone who represents them in the D\u00e1il,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis week, there\u2019s no proposals from Sinn F\u00e9in on housing, no proposals from Sinn F\u00e9in on the cost of living, no proposals from Sinn F\u00e9in on reforming our health system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cI think this is just a cynical attempt to try and pursue their path to power. It\u2019s not about solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about following through, and this gives the Government an opportunity to set out our delivery across many areas, on how we are fulfilling the objectives in the program for Government on housing and the cost of living, and on healthcare reform.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government faces a confidence vote on Tuesday after losing its majority in the D\u00e1il last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coalition has gradually seen its majority whittled down over the past few months \u2013 finally losing it when Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh resigned the whip over the Government\u2019s controversial Bill to provide redress to home-owners in counties affected by defective building blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The loss of Mr McHugh saw the number of Government TDs drop to 79 \u2013 one short of a D\u00e1il majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinn F\u00e9in tabled the motion, with party president Mary Lou McDonald saying independent TDs face a \u201cbig call\u201d on whether they are going to back \u201cbad government\u201d or instead \u201cstand up and be counted\u201d to secure a change in administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May, Green Party TDs Neasa Hourigan and Patrick Costello had the whip removed after they voted against the Government on an issue related to the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Chambers was asked if he had spoken to the two Green Party TDs, to which he said Green Party whip Marc \u00d3 Cathasaigh had contact with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere has been contact in recent weeks with both of the TDs and the Green Party will have further engagement with both of those TDs today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that neither has declared how they will vote, but he expects they will support the Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked if he has any concerns about reports that members of his own party are plotting to remove Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin as Fianna F\u00e1il leader, Mr Chambers said there is still \u201cstrong support\u201d for Mr Martin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t, and it wasn\u2019t discussed at that meeting as has been reported, and there\u2019s very strong support within our parliamentary party for the Taoiseach and strong support for him amongst the broader public,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s doing an excellent job as Taoiseach, and showing real determination to deliver on the program for Government and representing us with his team abroad as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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