Simon Coveney Will Face Motion Of No Confidence In The Dáil Today.

Wednesday, 15 September 2021 09:18

Its been tabled by Sinn Féin, following the Katherine Zappone controversy.

Minister Simon Coveney will face a no confidence motion this evening as the Dáil returns from its summer recess.

The Sinn Féin motion spurred by the controversy over Katherine Zappone's appointment as a UN Special Envoy is expected to dominate the first day back.

Our Political Correspondent Seán Defoe reports:

"The new Dáil term resumes this afternoon , the first session since TDs started their summer break in mid-July.

But between Covid restrictions decisions and a number of self inflicted scandals, the recess was far from quiet.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney faces a no-confidence motion this evening over his failed appointment of his former cabinet colleague Katherine Zappone as a UN Special Envoy.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned Fianna Fáil TDs will face a six month suspension from the party if they fail to back Coveney.

The Minister himself has been in touch with Coalition colleagues and expects to survive the vote.

The Dáil is fully returning to Leinster House for the first time since the start of the pandemic from today.

The chamber will be around half capacity, with 78 TDs sitting in a checquerboard format with one seat between them.

However, all TDs will be allowed in the chamber for the confidence vote, with extra space in the lobbies and visitors gallery also being used to house deputies."

Coveney to face motion of no confidence as Dáil resumes https://t.co/fE9qiBdBKN via @IrishTimesPol
— Irish Times Politics (@IrishTimesPol) September 15, 2021

The Sinn Féin leader says her party was left with no option but to move the motion

Mary Lou McDonald says the government needs to be sent a message

Cabinet Ministers have said they expect Government TDs to all back Simon Coveney in the motion.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says he expects his party TDs to back Minister Coveney