Aontu scraps plan for no confidence motion

Aontu has decided not to call a motion of no confidence in the Government.

It comes after the party initially said it would call a motion of no confidence in Tanaiste Simon Harris this week, which was undercut by the Government bringing a motion of confidence in him earlier this week instead.

Mr Harris and the Government won that motion, leaving Aontu with a decision on how to use its remaining time slot next week.

It considered a broader no confidence motion in the wider Government, but announced on Friday that it would no longer proceed with that plan.

In a statement, a spokesman said: “Aontu has decided not to bring a motion of no confidence forward to the Dail next week.

“We announced the original motion in order to bring as much pressure as possible on the Government to do the right thing for children with scoliosis.

“We believe we succeeded in achieving this, this week.

“If we brought a motion of no confidence against the Government next week, we would not be able to table another such motion for another six months.

“This would rob us of a key tool to pressure the Government at a key juncture in the future. Motions of no confidence should be used sparingly.

“They should be timed to have maximum effect to achieve objectives. Running two, one week after another, would not achieve that objective.”

The party is instead bringing a motion on transparency in office of the President as well as voting rights for Irish citizens in Northern Ireland in the election and examining the nomination process.