Government expected to win votes today but faces continuing pressure on housing
There is no doubt, however, that the Government – collectively and individually for many of its TDs, and also for its habitual Independent fellow-travellers – is finding the lifting of the eviction ban extremely difficult. Privately the view of many is yes, we had to do this, but did we really have to do it now? They are getting flayed in the Dáil, in the media, and – in some cases – in their constituencies.
There will be close eye kept on the margin of victory in the morning vote. The Coalition is expected to keep most of its Independent supporters, and its majority is not seriously under threat; but that Independent support does not come for free, and a government that relies on Independent TDs for its survival is not one that can be very confident about its future.
The second vote will be on Sinn Féin’s more targeted assault – the party tabled legislation, identical to the Government’s original legislation apart from the dates, which would extend the eviction ban until next January. This will force Independent TDs to actually vote against legislation which would extend the ban, rather than voting on an amended motion, as they did last week. You may be sure Sinn Féin will remind them on their votes on this rather a lot.
Apart from confidence motions the Dáil usually takes weekly votes in a bloc on Wednesday evenings. It will be interesting to see if the Government commands the same majority in this vote as it does in the confidence vote. The debate – held on Tuesday night – followed predictable patterns, a lonely Darragh O’Brien facing a mixture of pleading and condemnation from the Opposition.
But just because it’s political theatre doesn’t mean it’s illegitimate: theatre is part of politics. The Dáil is the forum through which – whatever its faults – our parliamentary democracy works. The Government can hardly complain about that. And theatre, remember, can convey a powerful message. It is not one that the Coalition will relish.
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