London – The Irish government survived a confidence vote Tuesday over how it handled a week of fuel protests that cut off oil deliveries and caused massive traffic jams.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin defended his coalition government by saying it had acted to end the “destructive blockade”.
The vote passed 92-78 preserving his leadership. If he lost, his government would have had to resign, and Parliament would have either elected a new prime minister or called a general election.
Martin defended the tax cuts the government has offered as the largest in Europe to cope with fuel prices that have soared after the U.S.-Israel war on Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital channel for the world’s oil.
“The basic core claim that we are doing nothing and are falling behind other countries is simply untrue,” Martin said.
Martin led a motion to support his coalition made up of the centre-right Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parties along with some independents ahead of a no-confidence vote brought by Sinn Féin, the largest opposition party. ~AP
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