The Government has faced accusations of “arrogance” over its handling of the fuel protests, as a motion of confidence in the coalition was debated.
Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Féin, described the Government as “brazen” and said it was “time for an election”, reports RTE.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was “manifestly untrue” to claim the Government had taken no action to support people amid rising fuel costs, and said it was “dishonest” for the opposition to argue that “there are no hard choices”.
Ministers also criticised politicians who supported the blockading of key infrastructure by protesters last week, reports RTE.
The Dáil is debating a motion of confidence in the coalition Government, brought forward by Sinn Féin following a week of major disruption caused by protests and fuel supply blockades.
The Government announced a €505 million support package on Sunday in response to rising fuel prices linked to the war in Iran, but political tensions have continued as the Dáil returned from the Easter recess on Tuesday, reports RTE.
All opposition parties have indicated they will vote against the Government’s confidence motion.
It remains uncertain how several independent TDs who have backed the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition will vote, including Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae, brother of junior minister Michael Healy-Rae, reports RTE.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Martin said the coalition had taken significant steps that go “beyond anything being done elsewhere”.
Mr Martin said it would be “dishonest” for the opposition to suggest “there are no hard choices to be made”, reports RTE.
He criticised the “destructive” blockades of critical national infrastructure last week, saying they “went far beyond” previous protests.
“Everybody has a right to protest, but nobody has a right to appoint themselves as the voice of the people and to threaten the jobs and livelihoods of many thousands of families,” he said, reports RTE.
“Nobody has the right to prevent people from getting to cancer treatment, to be visited by their carer, to distribute vital supplies – the House needs to face up to the fact that these actions were very directly threatening the basic fuel supplies of the country.”
Mr Martin also condemned “the sinister targeting” of gardaà and oil lorry drivers, along with threats directed at politicians, reports RTE.
“Parliamentary democracy is something we should all affirm and defend. The great majority of people who have protested have done so reasonably and democratically.
“We all saw that this was not the case for some other elements – and everyone here should understand you can’t share platforms with them, express your support for them, call them the voice of the people, and then deny your responsibility for legitimising them,” reports RTE.
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris said the Sinn Féin motion of no confidence was a “stunt” and warned that if it passed, the Government’s financial measures announced over the weekend would “fall away” without parliamentary approval.
Mr Harris said Sinn Féin had “decided on the motion before they ever saw the details of the Government’s package of supports”, adding that it was “far more comprehensive and strategically responsive than anything they have proposed”, reports RTE.
Ms McDonald again described the coalition as “brazen” and said it was time for a general election.
She also criticised the two-week Easter break of the Dáil during the fuel crisis, saying the Government could not “hide behind global events” and that the issues in Ireland stemmed from its own budget decisions, reports RTE.
“Your own arrogance, your lack of judgment, your lack of any empathy has left people with no conclusion other than this – your time is up.”
Ms McDonald told Mr Martin: “Today, as you backslap, congratulate, flatter each other, just know that beyond your bubble people see a government out of touch, reports RTE.
“Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and your Independent backers, time is up.
“It is time to go back to the people. Time for an election. Let the people have their say. Your government no longer commands the confidence of the people – it’s time to go,” reports RTE.
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