'Government expects support of Regional Independents in key votes'
The Government expects all Regional Independent TDs to support it during votes of confidence and while passing budgets, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers has said.
Mr Chambers said there is an ongoing commitment from Regional Independent TDs to back the Government, after both Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole voted for a Sinn Féin bill on Wednesday night.
The two independent TDs backed Sinn Féin's legislation that would prohibit the Central Bank from handling Israeli government bonds.
'Obviously they made individual decisions yesterday evening as non-aligned TDs in the Dáil, but they've also outlined their commitment to continue to support the Government,' Mr Chambers said.
On Wednesday, Mr Heneghan confirmed he voted against the Government, saying in a statement that it was about 'standing up for international law and basic human rights".
'Matters of conscience'
"I'm fully committed to the programme for government but, as an Independent TD, I reserve the right to act on matters of conscience. The situation is urgent, and Ireland must show leadership,' Mr Heneghan said.
Pressed what sanction the two TDs would face for voting against the Government, Mr Chambers said it was 'not about punishment'.
'We obviously have a whip system within the party groups, within Fianna Fáil, within Fine Gael and indeed ministers and ministers of state, our office holders within the Government.
'We have an ongoing commitment I think, and we've heard from the TDs in the last 24 hours around continued support for the Government. They've been generally supportive across many areas of legislation.'
Mr Chambers said it reflected previous debate on non-aligned TDs and that Regional Independent TDs would be able to make up their mind on an 'individual basis'.
However, when pressed if he expected the Regional Independents to back the Government during key votes such as budgets or confidence motions, Mr Chambers said that he did.
'We've had a very constructive working engagement with all of the Independent TDs and the non-aligned TDs who are members of Government and I expect that to continue in the period ahead," he said.
'On a vote of confidence or a budgetary matter, if they're continuing to support the Government as it is, that's obviously a more significant vote. I'd expect them, in light of the statement after the vote last evening, that they'll continue to support the Government.'
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