Fianna Fáil’s Darragh O’Brien has won a confidence vote in him as Housing Minister. 

TDs voted by a margin of 86 to 63 to keep in office.

The motion of no confidence was tabled last week by People Before Profit who said that the Government’s housing policy had failed. 

The Government responded by tabling a counter-motion that the Dáil did have confidence in Darragh O’Brien as Housing Minister and Taoiseach Micheál Martin launched a passionate defence of his colleague. 

“I think it is important for us all to note at the start of this debate, that the opposition is not actually in the slightest bit interested in more homes being delivered,” he told TDs. 

“The sole reason why we’re having this debate is that they thought it would give them another opportunity to attack the Government. 

“The problem is that they are attacking a minister who is already making a significant positive impact and where the measures that are being put in place are starting to deliver.” 

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald said that Minister O’Brien’s record was one of failure.

“Darragh O’Brien has now been in office for two and a half years; it’s two and a half years too long,” she said. 

“On every level by which you might judge the performance of a Housing Minister, he has failed to get the job done. 

“In any other job, in any other walk of life, he would have been sacked by now. He needs to go.”

Main image: Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien.