Politics

Government wins motion of confidence by 85 votes to 66

Testy exchanges in Dáil as leader of the opposition accuses independent TDs who supported the government of betraying their constituents

Taoiseach Micheál Martin began the evening’s fraught proceedings by spinning the motion as a ‘welcome’ opportunity to take stock of the government’s record in power. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The government has won a vote of confidence by 85 votes to 66, following an evening of rancorous exchanges in the Dáil.

The absences of a number of opposition TDs, as well as the support of three government TDs who had lost the whip: Joe McHugh, Neasa Hourigan and Patrick Costello, and support from a number of independent TDs, ensured the government comfortably won its counter motion to Sinn Féin’s motion of no confidence.

In ...