SINN FÉIN IS to table a motion of no confidence in the government over its handling of the fuel protests.

The party’s TDs and Senators met this morning to decide its next action, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald labelling the handling of the protests and wider fuel pressures as “disastrous”.

Shortly after Sinn Féin’s statement, other opposition parties Social Democrats and Independent Ireland have said they will also vote no confidence in the Government.

McDonald said that Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents who support them have “lost the confidence of the public” and needed to be voted out.

“It is clear that they still are not listening and do not accept the scale of this fuel and cost of living crisis,” McDonald said. 

She added that the Government’s expected fuel package – which has not yet been finalised – appears to be “more of the same half measures” and not enough to support people amid the wider oil crisis.

“We need the maximum reductions now, as proposed by Sinn Féin weeks ago,” McDonald said.

“These protests are a manifestation of how desperate many people feel as costs continue to soar – not just for fuel, but for everything in this country.

“People are increasingly struggling to pay for the basics – food, energy and housing – and the government is just not listening to them. They are out of touch and out of ideas.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said this afternoon that she also believes that the new support package will “exclude huge numbers of people” who are under significant pressure.

Cairns pointed to her party’s call for a targeted €400 energy credit, as well as other support measures, to provide relief.

“The Social Democrats have no confidence in this government’s ability to manage this crisis – and, for that reason, we will support the no confidence motion in them,” Cairns said.

Independent Ireland – which has been one of the backers of the fuel protests – said it would also be voting no, citing the Government’s “condescending” handling of the protests.

A spokesperson said this was at times “inflammatory rather than conciliatory”, and that it has no confidence in its ability to continue.