Vivienne Clarke
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said a motion of no confidence against her is a "distraction from the huge amount of work that needs to be done".
The motion, tabled by Sinn Féin is due to be debated and voted on in the Dáil on Tuesday.
Ms McEntee has come under sustained pressure following riots in Dublin on November 23rd, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald calling for the Minister to hand in her resignation.
Speaking on her way into a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Ms McEntee said she feels the Sinn Féin motion is a distraction, adding: "As you can see from Cabinet today, I'm getting on with my work and there's a huge amount to be done."
Ms McEntee is understood to be presenting Cabinet with a proposed extradition deal between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates aimed at targeting the Kinahan organised crime group.
"I've been busy for the last three years working on not just safety in Dublin but many other issues," the Minister said.
"Today, I will bring to Cabinet a request to support and negotiations to open up with the UAE. I think one of the greatest successes of An Garda Síochána in recent years has been the development of international law enforcement coalitions, and so we will begin talks with the UAE on an extradition treaty and mutual legal assistance."
Returning to issues closer to home, Ms McEntee added that she has been working closely with people in Dublin city centre, "to make sure that they are safe, that they feel safe, and that our city is a welcoming city for everyone".
Asked for an update as to what went wrong on the night of the riots in Dublin, Ms McEntee said gardaí responded in a "really exceptional way", adding: "I think the way in which they maintained such a possibly dangerous situation was excellent."
The Minister said she will receive a full report on the matter from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris "in time", but added: "There will always be lessons that need to be learned, but I certainly think that they responded in the most appropriate way possible at the time."
