The Green Party will back the Justice Minister in any Dáil confidence vote, party leader Eamon Ryan has insisted.

He was speaking after Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan said she does not see how she could support Helen McEntee if a no confidence motion was called.

Sinn Féin has called on the Taoiseach to remove Minister McEntee from her post and warned that it will consider a no-confidence motion if she remains.

A number of opposition parties have indicated they would support the motion following the violence in Dublin city centre last week.

Speaking yesterday, Deputy Hourigan suggested she might join them.

“As long as my neighbour doesn’t feel secure then I’m insecure too.”@EamonRyan says Dublin is “not safe enough” – but is urging Dubliners not to be intimidated by last week’s #DublinRiots. pic.twitter.com/aLi31lUHKN

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) November 28, 2023

On his way into Cabinet this morning, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the party would be supporting Minister McEntee.

“We’ll be voting support for the Government,” he said. “We’re in Government and in Government you work collectively, you work together.

“So yes, I’ll be voting confidence in the Minister for Justice and I think it is important at this time that actually we deliver that increased safety.

He said removing the minister would not address the problems in the capital.

“We need to get down to work in Government and we will collectively,” he said.

A burned Luas carriage in Dublin city centre following riots, 24/11/2023. Image: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Also speaking on her way into the meeting this morning, Minister McEntee moved to reassure people that the city is safe in the leadup to Christmas, with a ‘strong, visible, Garda presence’ on the streets.

That call has been echoed by businesses in the city who are reminding shoppers that it is “business as usual in Dublin this Christmas”.

Asked if he believed the city was safe, Minister Ryan more must be done to make it safer.

“It is not safe enough,” he said,

“I mean, I love Dublin, I was born and raised in this city and it has great qualities and great characteristics but as long as my neighbour doesn’t feel insecure then I am insecure too.

“We need to keep the decency and the culture and the values that are real Dublin values in my mind and not be intimidated by the sort of antics we saw last week.

“We can make it safer and we need to make it safer. It is not safe enough.”

At least 48 people have so far been arrested in connection with the violence and looting in the capital after the Parnell Square attack.