Sinn Féin is “actively” considering filing a no-confidence vote in the government next week after the coalition lost its Dáil majority on Wednesday night.
The move follows Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh’s decision to lay down his party’s whip after voting against the government on several amendments to the Mica recovery scheme.
A source at Sinn Féin said the matter is being “actively considered” but no final decision has been made before the deadline for filing a motion on Friday morning.
The Dáil will be suspended for the summer recess after next week. At the moment, Sinn Féin plans to table a housing motion in the Dáil next week, but this could change in the next 24 hours.
“The government has lost its majority and we are considering all options, including a vote of no confidence in the government. We are actively considering this,” a Sinn Féin source said.
Mr McHugh’s decision reduces the number of coalition members in the Dáíl to 79 out of 159 TDs, not counting Ceann Comhairle.
The majority of the tripartite government has steadily eroded over the past two years, with the six-month suspension of Green Party TDs Patrick Costello and Neasa Hourigan two months ago, reducing the majority to one.
The resignation of former Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy from the Dáil and Marc MacSharry’s decision to resign last year’s parliamentary party Fianna Fáil also reduced the coalition’s majority.
However, it continues to enjoy support from a number of independent TDs, including Michael Lowry, in Dáil votes, meaning Sinn Féin’s motion is unlikely to pass.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “This is a government that has now lost its parliamentary majority and is failing to address the cost of living and housing crises. They have lost their way. A vote of no confidence is pending.”
The deadline for submitting a motion is 11 a.m. Friday.