The government coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, some independents has survived a motion of no confidence in the Dáil today (Tuesday, April 14), put forward by opposition party, Sinn Féin.

However the government coalition is not without its casualties as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Healy Rae is set to resign from his position.

It follows nationwide protests and blockades over the past week over the cost of fuel, primarily led by farmers, hauliers and contractors.

While, the government announced a range of fuel-related measures to help farmers and workers in related areas, they still took a bruising in the Dáil chamber today.

The €100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme is intended to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing increases in fuel costs.

Independent TD, Michael Fitzmaurice said: "The IFA [Irish Farmers' Association] warned ye a week before it [the protests].

"The dog in the street knew there was discontent. What was the difference in bringing measures in the Sunday before to try and solve this? But no, 'we won't listen to the people that elected us'.

"I never in my life, and I've be here for a lot of debates, I never in my life got more emails of people disgusted.

"I went up to the people in Galway, people who voted for ye, every time for Fine Gael for Fianna Fáil, decent people and let no-one say that those people are 'far right'."

Meanwhile, in his speech, Minister Healy-Rae said "the people of Kerry are telling me that they are unhappy with this government".

"Because of the fact that I believe this government have left the people of Ireland down, I will be voting no confidence in the leader of the country, and I will be tendering my resignation as a minister of state from now."

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon told the Dáil that he "regretted" the resignation of his colleague Michael Healy Rae.

He said: "It is my job to fight for and defend agriculture in the best interest of our famers, our fishers and our agri-food sector because of its importance to our overall economy and in particular our rural economy.

"I do this in my department and at cabinet and I do it with the support of my colleagues across government because this government recognises the vital role that our farmers, fishers, foresters and farm contractors play across Ireland.

"The vulnerability of our farmers and fishers to a massive energy shock has greatly concerned all."

The minister said the government recognises the pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on the agri-food sector at a very important time of the year for farming.

"I have heard it from friends, from neighbours and in my ongoing engagements with representative bodies," the minister continued.

"Green diesel has almost doubled in price from less than €1/L in a matter of weeks.

"... that is why this government has approved a substantial package of support."

Sinn Féin and government contributions

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told Taoiseach Micheál Martin: “Your time is up. It is time for an election. Let the people have their say.

"Your government no longer commands the confidence of the Dáil and of the Irish people. And it’s your time to go.”

Speaking during the debate McDonald said that Sinn Féin had “provided government with an alternative that would have made fuel affordable and supported people” and “asked for the Dáil to be reconvened” but that the Taoiseach “sent the Dáil home for 20 days while people struggled”.

She said that while ordinary people struggled to put food on the table, workers struggled to fill their tank, and carers and people with disabilities faced the choice of heating or eating.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "We need to talk about the huge impact of rising oil prices, but also the wider context of protecting jobs, funding services, investing to get costs down and getting Ireland through a period of international turmoil.

"... It's not about helping special interest groups, we all depend on transport, food production, haulage, fisheries and other fuel intensive industries.

"I'm not going to attempt to address all of the false claims by opposition deputies, but I will reply to a clearly untrue statement by deputy [Matt] Carty.

"He claimed that the Irish government is the 'biggest profiteer' on oil prices and that budget coffers were being swelled... this is flat out untrue," the Taoiseach added.

The counter motion of confidence in the government was passed by a majority vote of 92 in favour and 78 against.