THERE ARE LOTS of serious things that happen in Leinster House and the political world, but there is also a lot of daft stuff that goes on on a weekly basis.
With that in mind it’s important to remember that when they’re not deciding and voting on important pieces of legislation or debating matters of State our politicians are up to all sorts, some of it good, some of it bad, some of it just kind of silly.
So here are our not-so-serious political awards for this year…
“You’re like Murphy’s cow with two dry tits, one blind tit and a sup of milk in the other tit.”
Never have there been so many mentions of ‘tit’ in one Dáil exchange than when Mattie McGrath and Pat Rabbitte locked horns (cow? bull? horns? geddit!?) over electricity pylons:
The former justice minister was back in fighting form for the Seanad referendum with his shouty voice, his pointy finger, and his massive, massive… Constitution:
Senator David Norris really should have known better:
Colm Keaveney went all the way from Labour to independence to Fianna Fáil, leaving Micheál Martin struggling to keep a straight face (see video below) and Rabbitte himself claiming that the Galway East TD might even join Hezbollah.
No one quite takes flight, in physical and vocal terms, like the People Before Profit TD:
Why say something in one minute, when you can say it in 10? Peter Mathews really doesn’t know how to keep to the clock:
We know how Charlie McConalogue feels. Here he is listening to Mathews in the Dáil:
Aengus Ó Snodaigh really did cause a storm with these remarks:
This was real toughie with Eoghan Murphy putting in a strong showing:
While his coalition backbench colleague Arthur Spring also has a fine looking thing:
Both, we understand, have now shed their beards but they can both share the award this year.
Glorious work from the Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin during the month of November. Nothing else comes close:
He can’t manage his tax affairs very well, but Mick Wallace sure can rock a Torino shirt like no other deputy:
The Ceann Comhairle is now renowned for his displeasure at TDs’ behaviour during Dáil debates and particularly in and around Leaders’ Questions.
This outburst was particularly entertaining:
These two moments can’t be separated…
“I’m sorry – purely on a point of information, I’m totally confused.”
“The Taoiseach and your own party have urinated all over this house.”
Those shortsleeves on Michael Healy-Rae could do some serious damage:
The debate on the DNA Database Bill was exceptionally boring until this happened:
Pics: Photocall Ireland/Eoghan Murphy Twitter/Oireachtas TV. Gifs: Nicky Ryan/Oireachtas TV
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