Micheál Martin acknowledged that the Government had not foreseen the disruption caused by recent fuel depot blockades, adding that "there are always learnings" from such events. Concerns have been raised within the coalition, with members of Fianna Fáil voicing unease about how the situation over the past week was managed. Among them, James Lawless admitted some in Government were "caught unawares."
The developments come as Sinn Féin prepares to bring forward a motion of no confidence in the Government. In response, the Dáil will instead debate a Government motion of confidence in itself later today, following the Easter recess. The debate, expected to last two and a half hours, will replace Leaders’ Questions and culminate in a roll call vote, setting the stage for a contentious session.
Although the coalition is expected to secure enough support to survive the vote, uncertainty remains among several Independent TDs, including Gillian Toole, Barry Heneghan, and Danny Healy-Rae. The latter is considered the most likely to oppose the Government, though he has not confirmed his position.
Tensions are heightened by the potential consequences for Michael Healy-Rae, who currently serves as a junior minister at the Department of Agriculture. His appointment was widely understood to depend on the support of both himself and his brother Danny. A senior Government figure remarked, "The deal was two of them for one ministerial job," underlining the expectation of unified backing.
When the coalition was formed, the Healy-Rae brothers described themselves as a “fourth leg” of Government. However, there is growing frustration within Government Buildings, with one view suggesting, "They can't be the fourth leg if half that leg is outside of Government."
Despite calling on both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, to resign, Danny Healy-Rae has yet to clarify how he will vote. Following a meeting of Regional Independents, sources close to him indicated it was still "too early" to determine his position. Meanwhile, the Government believes the remaining Independent TDs will ultimately support it.
Later today, the Dáil is also expected to vote on financial measures introducing further reductions to excise duties on petrol, diesel, and green diesel, as announced by Cabinet over the weekend.
Separately, Dara Calleary is seeking approval to publish draft legislation that would allow the Public Services Card to be used as a form of identification with banks, credit unions, and utility providers. The proposal would also allow cardholders to include their date of birth for age verification purposes.
Speaking ahead of the Cabinet meeting, Simon Harris described the past week as "a really difficult period of time in our country." He acknowledged the financial strain many are experiencing, saying "people are really struggling" and "to the pin of their collar." While recognising the pressure on households, he stressed that targeting critical infrastructure is not a solution, adding that the Government is continuing efforts to address the challenges.
