Government Look To See Off Opposition Move Against Simon Harris

Aontú Blast Cynical Government Move To Bring Motion Of Confidence In Tánaiste Simon Harris

The Government is to push through a Dáil motion of confidence in Tánaiste Simon Harris today.

This move comes after Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín announced that his party plans to table a no-confidence motion next week in the Wicklow deputy amid controversies and public anger surrounding Children’s Health Ireland and scoliosis surgery waiting times.

The Government’s move seems to be an attempt to pre-empt a debate on disabilities during the final week of presidential election campaigning.

Reports say party whips were informed that the Coalition will introduce the confidence motion today with a vote scheduled for 3:30 pm.

Since then Peadar Tóibín has criticised the Government for prioritising its own electoral interests over what he describes as an “important debate” on children’s health and scoliosis services.

He had confirmed Aontú’s plan to table a no-confidence motion in the Tánaiste on Tuesday after claiming issues within Children’s Health Ireland and delays in scoliosis surgery should prompt the discussion.

On Wednesday morning, he referenced the case of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison, who died in July after waiting years for spinal surgery.

He told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland: “We want justice for Harvey, alongside justice and treatment for every other child currently suffering”.

Mr Tóibín added that his party intends to use its limited Private Members’ time next week to highlight these issues and ensure such tragedies do not recur.

Despite this, the Government is moving ahead with its confidence motion later today.

 “The Government is incredibly cynical here. They are shifting the timing of the motion because of the presidential election. They are putting their electoral interests ahead of this important debate,” Mr Tóibín said. “It’s just incredibly cynical to think they can trick people into changing their voting decisions by moving it forward a week. I don’t believe the public are as easily fooled as the Government thinks.”

He also noted that Aontú “may still” table a no-confidence motion in the Government, ensuring the issue can be discussed next week as well.