Tomorrow’s vote on a no-confidence motion in Housing Minister, Eoghan Murphy, is set to be very tight. With revelations in the past few hours that former Fine Gael TD Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick and Independent TD Deputy Noel Grealish will both support the no-confidence motion.
Independent TD from Co. Clare, Dr Michael Harty has not yet revealed how he will vote tomorrow, but it is to be noted that he voted no-confidence in Health Minister, Simon Harris, earlier this year.
Working on an assumption that Fitzpatrick, Grealish, Dr Harty, and all opposition benches (except Fianna Fáil) will vote against the government, and if Michael Lowry TD and Denis Naughten TD both support the government, then the result would be fifty-six votes either side. That’s if Fine Gael Deputies Enda Kenny TD and Dara Murphy TD show up to vote.
Above: Housing Minister, Eoghan Murphy
Of the four TDs elected at the weekend, it is largely expected two will abstain and two will support the motion. Both Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats, who introduced the motion, are today busy reminding the public, the press and the opposition benches, that a motion of no confidence would not necessarily mean a December election, reminding that “that wasn’t the case with Fitzgerald or Naughten”.
If the votes are level, then pressure may mount on either the Cheann Comhairle to cast a vote, or on other members of Fianna Fáil. In the event that this does happen, it is difficult to imagine any Fianna Fáil TD voting in favour of the government, without facing huge backlash from within the parliamentary party and the wider Fianna Fáil base at the next election.
Luke Peter Silke 