The Government’s majority looks set to be reduced to the narrowest of margins when the Dáil votes on a bid to extend the eviction ban later this week.

Labour has confirmed it will be backing the Sinn Féin motion and has called on the Government to reverse its decision not to extend the measure beyond the end of this month.

Over the weekend meanwhile, Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan confirmed that she would be breaking ranks with her Government colleagues to support the Sinn Féin motion.

She said she intends to uphold the spirit of a mission from the branch of the party known as the Just Transition Greens which calls for the ban to be upheld ‘until such time as the Government has completed a significant policy intervention in the housing sector’.

Her decision sees the Government’s majority reduced to the tiniest of margins.

Eviction ban

Labour leader Ivana Bacik told Newstalk Labour will put forward a bill to extend the ban if the motion is defeated.

“We are assuming that the Government will ensure that the Sinn Féin motion is defeated, even though we in Labour and across the opposition will be supporting it,” she said.

“In that case, we in Labour have called on Government to adopt an emergency bill that we have put forward to see the extension of the eviction ban until there is an evidence-based reason for lifting it.”

Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan at the launch of a 'Roadmap to Zero' report around Hepatitis C elimination targets in June 2022. Picture by: Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland

The Green Party is due to hold its weekly meeting this evening amid suggestions Deputy Hourigan could face a heft sanction over her decision to vote against the Government.

Meanwhile, her party colleague Patrick Costello has yet to confirm how he will vote on the motion after previously voicing concern about the lifting of the ban.

The three Government party leaders will meet tonight to discuss the wording of a Government countermotion to the Sinn Féin motion.

Speaking to Newstalk’s On The Record from Washington yesterday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she 'cannot fathom' why the Government is pushing ahead with its plan to end the ban.