Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE CEANN COMHAIRLE has said that for the time being Dáil votes will only be taken when all members are seated in their designated seats.
It emerged over the weekend that Niall Collins voted for fellow Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley six times in one session while Dooley was outside the chamber on a phone call.
It wasn’t the only incident to emerge in recent days – a number of TDs have come forward in the last two days to say that another TD voted for them while they were in the chamber. Fianna Fáil’s Brexit spokesperson Lisa Chambers yesterday admitted she mistakenly voted for deputy leader Dara Calleary last week.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl ordered a report into the Dooley and Collins incident on Saturday. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has asked the Dooley and Collins to temporarily step down from their positions on the party’s frontbench after the incident was reported.
It is understood the party leader has today also spoken to Chambers and has accepted her explanation of events. She will not face any sanction.
When contacted by TheJournal.ie, Dooley said he was not going to make any comment on the issue until the Ceann Comhairle finishes his report. Calls to Niall Collins to request comment on the events were not returned.
Addressing the chamber before Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today, Ó Fearghaíl said he is “absolutely committed to establishing the facts and making any changes to the electronic voting system that are deemed necessary following the review”.
“Any recommendations to changes to the system that emerge from the review will be given immediate attention,” Ó Fearghaíl said.
In the meantime, any votes this week shall only be taken when all members are seated in their designated seats.
A Committee on Procedure meeting will be convened on Thursday morning to consider the completed report, he noted.
Ó Fearghaíl added that provision will be made, if necessary, on Thursday for a debate on the matter.
‘That would be a crime’
The issue was also raised during Leaders’ Questions today when Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald asked Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
McDonald said the behaviour of Fianna Fáil TDs has “discredited” the Dáil, adding that last week’s incident demonstrates an “absolute disrespect for those who elected you and those you represent”.
“Beyond the investigation being taken up ably by the Ceann Comhairle, how are we to establish whether or not this practice is, and has been, in fact, widespread and how will we deal with the consequences of that?” McDonald asked Varadkar.
In response, Varadkar said “the integrity of the voting process is integral to our democracy”.
He continued:
If an ordinary citizen voted twice, for example, and voted for somebody else as well as themselves, that would be a crime.
To vote for somebody else, that’s impersonation, or to vote twice that is a crime. It certainly would be no defence to say that it didn’t matter because the person who won won by a big margin anyway.
Varadkar said “we must apply to people in this House the same standards as we would apply to ordinary citizens going out to vote on voting day, on election day or on referendum day”.
The Taoiseach went on to say he believes there is “a world of a difference” between being in the chamber but not being in your seat and not being in the chamber at all.
“In order to allay any concerns or confusion, I think we should all now be in our seats for all votes from now on.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
They are also debating about adding a white rabbits foot along with a piece of wood from the Ark to be touched for luck.
No no lol. That’d be *superstition*.
Eye of newt and toe of frog
*cackles hysterically!*
Christianity would be considered one of the major blood cults in the world so this is fairly normal. But putting it into government office is beyond belief.
Derek we could with a few relics in the Dail..”.oh wait we already have!
“He’s dying!…..quick! take some of his blood!….he won’t be needing it”
Ok devout Catholic or whatever, but why a vial of blood , a good luck charm?
Well they eat Jesus’ body every week and the priest gets a sip of his blood. Or to everyone else a stale cracker and some cheap wine. At least this time they have the genuine article.
Bloody hell!
Haha I was going to say dat
“We won’t use it for political ends” How in the name of Jaysus could you?
Catholicism
1. Worships a zombie
2. Mandates the consumption of what it believes to be human flesh in its rituals
3. Decorates its temples with images of torture and execution.
So really, selling vials of blood is nothing unusual for it.
Why this sick death cult is allowed any influence in modern society is beyond me.
@Grigori Rasputin,
It’s bad, but not nearly as bad that death cult masquerading as the “Religion of Peace”.
It’s true that they gave up their overtly murderous ways a few hundred years ago.
Still, there’s no other death cult that actually has control over our education and health systems.
What kind of Republic outsources these to the ideological wing of a foreign theocracy, rooted in Bronze Age mythology and morality?
membership is optional guys!
But the influence is inescapable.
No it’s not. You get indoctrinated as a child, without consent. The church has also blocked the possibility of declaring oneself a non Catholic. So, not exactly optional.
@king if you don’t want to be Catholic, don’t pray or go to mass, don’t baptise your kids and most importantly don’t tick the box on census … I’m not sure how your blocked declaring ypur not a Catholic?? do people call to your house when you say it or what?
@ also king… your parents indoctrinated you… so I hope you have suitably reprimanded them for this..
Before 2009 you could send a declaration of defection to your local bishop to formally declare that you were no longer a Catholic. This was recognised by Canon law. The church changed this law in 2009 in response to growing numbers of people using it. The Church still views me a Catholic. This is despite the fact I was baptised etc without consent. Despite the fact I was not married in a church and that my two kids have never been baptised. Sometimes it is not just as simple as saying one is atheist Mark.
Yes I did, when they were both still alive.
They are also selling his baby teeth at reception.
I wonder did he give permission,was he asked or would he of wanted it? Why him specifically?Is it just another example of politicians ending up with someone else’s blood on their hands
Probably because he was Polish
And people think Scientology is whack?
Along with a kids size underpants aged 4-6.
That’s s bit creepy. Dracula like. Leave the man alone he is dead. That’s why we say R.I.P
they haven’t gone near him since he died so I’m sure he’s resting in peace.
There’s no such thing as resting when you’re dead. You’re dead, your body is decomposing, and anything that happens to it is of no consequence to you, because you don’t exist any more.
I can’t wait for mass later.Get my sunday paper after then and read it while the wife puts on the roast. Life is good.
@mike litoris,
Are you related to Mike Hunt?
yup,he’s a right c*¥t.
@mike litoris: So you’re a bit of a c*¥t!
Should add a rabbit’s foot to the collection!
Maybe these people were better off under Communism.
Yes, because life was wonderful under comrade Stalin.
@Scarce 9 Jutro,
Well now they’re back to medieval superstition, and their population is spread all over the EU, including over 160,000 of them that are here.
So what if they are spread all over the world, so are Irish people. Is the happenings of Dáil Éireann representative of our diaspora?
Mind some of THEM is actually reading it and might be offended. So what do you suggest to stop us spreading – birth control, camps? There was a chap with these ideas some 80 years ago. Still seems to have some fans in Ireland …
@Go+See+Do,
So anyone who is not in favour of unlimited mass immigration is like Hitler?
Stalin was in charge of the USSR, not Poland.
What is it with this weird, gruesome Catholic obsession with chopping up cadavers and then worshipping the parts?
Think you’re confusing Catholics with anthropologists there James.
My goodness.
Today a new low in online commenting has been reached.
Well done James. You’ve well and truly dragged us into the cesspit with that one.
Hopefully this is the nadir.
(not counting on it though)
Dear editor.
Technical hitch here.
I clicked on an article about the venerable Pope John Paul and ended up being directed to the ‘Make me a stand-up comedian’ series.
Please fix it.
Thanks.
Yours sincerely.
A concerned Catholic.
Daft and bizarre.
Superstitious cr ap. In this day and age why people still believe this codswallop beats me.
Why would you?
The AIDS Pope.
Weird, strange and even silly.
What group does he belong to?
Ehhh!!!! So what!!!!
that’s abit creepy
have your say