Heneghan defends vote of confidence in government

Independent TD Barry Heneghan has defended his decision to support the government in last week’s vote of no confidence.

On Tuesday (April 14), the government survived a vote of no-confidence, introduced by Sinn Féin, by a margin of 92-78.

Sinn Féin claimed a scalp in the form of Michael Healy-Rae resigning from his position as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and stating that he had no confidence in the government.

However, the government survived, after independent TDs, who were courted by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the aftermath of the 2024 general election, voted to keep the government in place.

Heneghan voted confidence in the government alongside fellow independents Sean Canney, Marian Harkin, Michael Lowry and Gillian Toole.

Heneghan defended his decision, saying that if the government were to fall now, the country would be heading to the polls in the midst of global economic upheaval, and that stability was needed.

In a statement released to the Northside People, Heneghan said, “I understand the frustration and the anger that’s out there. People are under real pressure, and in recent weeks, communication from the government felt distant and disconnected from the ordinary people, and I understand that anger.”

He stated, “I wasn’t elected to shout from the sidelines, I was elected to deliver and work on solutions.”

Heneghan asserted, “before the election, I made it clear I would support a government to be as effective as possible as an independent TD, the best way to do this is by making a deal and using my influence to deliver on my constituency’s priorities that I heard during the election.”

He explained, “I am already seeing progress on my key priorities with investment in Beaumont Hospital and progression in its new A&E, which are, and always will be, something I want to see through to the end.”

“I have made it clear to the Taoiseach that my support of the government is based on one thing, delivering for my constituents; that means investment in Beaumont Hospital, St. Francis Hospice, St. Joseph’s, our schools, disability services and our community facilities. It means real action on energy costs through plug-in solar and private wires legislation.”

Heneghan has been criticised for voting with left-wing parties when he was a Dublin City Council member in 2024, but later backing Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael when he became a TD.

He said, “it would have been easier for me to sit in opposition and criticise but achieve nothing. It’s harder to use your position to actually get results, but that’s what I was elected to do. I would rather be inside the tent than outside.”

The independent TD said, “I will not be moved by political pressure, intimidation, or online abuse. My focus is on delivering for Dublin Bay North and the people I have the honour of representing. At a time of global economic uncertainty, stability matters. Without a functioning government, there are no supports and no progress.”

“I am here to fight for people and to deliver real outcomes,” he stated.

Dublin Bay North stablemate Denise Mitchell attempted to goad Heneghan into voting no confidence in the government prior to the vote.

The Sinn Féin TD said “he (Heneghan) told voters he would be an independent voice and would be free from party restrictions. The reality is that he and the rest of the Lowry lackeys take their orders from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.”

Mitchell said, “I cannot be the only TD in Dublin Bay North who is hearing about the unfairness of it all. I am sure the deputies from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and Deputy Heneghan, are hearing it, too.”

“If they are, I must ask them if they care. People want a government that will listen to them and will make decisions to make their lives easier. As usual, we have too little too late, with half measures coming from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, all backed by the so-called regional Independents, including people such as Deputy Heneghan, who is in my constituency.”

Mitchell stated, “people in my constituency are struggling with their ESB bills. Elderly people are terrified to turn on their heating because of the cost. Meanwhile, in Clonshaugh, there are data centres paying half of what households do for their electricity. How is that fair?”

The Dublin Bay North TD added, “the thing that gets to me is the unfairness of it all. Thousands of children are homeless. At the same time, we have seen this government throwing families to the wolves with its rent hike bill.”

When the government took office in January 2025, 3,415 children were in homeless accommodation in Dublin; the most recent round of figures puts the same figure at 3,931.

Elsewhere in the debate, Dublin Bay North TD Cian O’Callaghan took aim at his namesake, Jim, dubbing him “GI Jim O’Callaghan” and remarking, “he arrived on the scene thinking that he was Rambo.”

The Social Democrats TD noted, “thankfully, a very effective professional policing response from An Garda Síochána brought the country back from the brink.”

“As the dust settles, people really struggling with the cost of living remain left behind, forgotten by this government; these are people who cannot get their demands high up on the agenda by parking their trucks on O’Connell Street,” he said.