No confidence motion branded as knee jerk reaction.

Brendan Howlin says the Dáil debate tonight and tomorrow night is an attempt to prolong the political panic surrounding the garda tapes affair.

The government is expected to comfortably win the vote, but will face further attacks over its handling of the garda tapes and the resignation of Martin Callinan.

Brendan Howlin says Fianna Fáil is just trying to score some easy points.

“I think there's a normal political knee-jerk reaction to try and pro-long a controversy – that's just custom and practice” he said.

“So I don't expect anything different from Fianna Fail” he added.

But Fianna Fáil says the minister is trying to play down a genuine political crisis.

Justice Spokesman Niall Collins says the government must take responsibility for its own problems.