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AN ABSOLUTE SHITSHOW. That’s the only way you could describe the chaotic scenes at Leinster House today.
Four suspensions of the Dáil, raucous scenes in the chamber, accusations of “stunt politics on speed” and at the end of the day, we have no new Taoiseach and no new Cabinet.
While the country was getting word that a red weather warning is on the way, there was no such alert for the storm that was about the hit Leinster House today.
“Never seen anything like it,” one TD told The Journal. Another said the Opposition were running roughshod over the Constitution.
But should this all have been foreseen?
It’s been 54 days since the election, and many expected that today’s proceedings of nominating and electing a Taoiseach would proceed without much drama.
TDs gathered in the chamber, Micheál Martin’s wife and children were seated in the distinguished visitors gallery, and those in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were buoyant.
But since last week, one issue has been rumbling on.
And despite assertions from the Tánaiste that no one was “excited” about the issue, that issue erupted today in a spectacular fashion causing havoc for the entire day.
At the core of today’s disturbances, the dispute over Dáil speaking rights and whether those in the Regional Independent group, who were involved in the government formation talks, are entitled to Opposition speaking time (you can catch up here on what it is all about).
No sooner had proceedings begun today, it was clear there was a big problem.
While Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald was the first on her feet to give out, it was clear the entirety of the Opposition were not happy.
It’s rare for the Opposition to join forces, but it became clear that they believed putting on a united front was their best move in this scenario. It could be said they should have done this perhaps prior to the election, but better late than never.
Throughout the hullabaloo of the day, a number of the Opposition leaders could be seen huddled in conference together, discussing their next move against what they dubbed “stroke politics”.
McDonald said that proposed speaking arrangements were a “cynical and unprecedented ruse” to allow supporters of the government sit among the Opposition, while People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said Independents were supporting government while “pretending to be in opposition”.
He said the situation has “taken the art of speaking out two sides of your mouth to a new and higher level”.
Things began to ratchet up from there.
Labour’s Alan Kelly said he didn’t want the Irish parliament to be “made a show of”, but said what was being put before them in terms of the speaking arrangements was a “farce”.
Cue more shouting and Murphy had to suspend the House.
Upon its return, the shouting continued. The Dáil was back for less than two minutes and had to be suspended again.
After about an hour, the Dáil returned and government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton requested another recess of 45 minutes to allow party representatives to meet and then consult with their own parties afterwards.
After that meeting was held there was still no resolution. The Dáil then returned just after 4pm. Naughton stood up and said an agreement had been reached, but Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn interjected to say nothing had been agreed.
There was attempt to push on with business, but Opposition members rose to their feet, with some Labour TDs making for the door. The Ceann Comhairle adjourned the Dáil.
As the hours ticked on today, nervous faces of the possible ministers-in-waiting could be seen in Leinster House. These are the people who were expecting to get a call from the Taoiseach today telling them they had a seat around the Cabinet table. Looks like they’ll have to wait another day.
One Fianna Fáil TD stopped to speak to journalists who had gathered at the bottom of the stairs to the Dáil, stating that Sinn Féin were pulling a fast one. They said it was time to get on with matters.
An Opposition TD who was nearby quipped that this was all of the government’s making.
Simon Harris and Martin spoke to the media afterwards, labelling the day’s events as a “subversion of the Irish Constitution”. A big statement.
Questions posed to the two leaders, included: Is Michael Lowry, who is one of the TDs in the technical group, an Opposition TD or a government TD?
Another was could this issue of speaking rights not have been dealt with before today’s sitting?
Harris and Martin were seething over today’s events, stating that the media shouldn’t buy in to Sinn Féin spin, while adding that this was not an issue they could resolve.
“This is the first time, I think, in over 100 years, that the Dáil has failed to elect a government to fulfill its constitutional obligation,” Martin told the media scrum outside Government Buildings this evening.
The only conclusion that can be drawn is that this new government never expected that such a process issue as speaking rights could hold up the show.
They didn’t expect that the muscle of the Opposition would be flexed and they would work together on this common cause.
Martin and Harris didn’t see the seriousness of the situation last week when there were threats of legal action from Opposition parties, and as a result, we don’t have a new Taoiseach this evening.
Green Party Minister Roderic O’Gorman (who remains a minister until we have a new Cabinet) tweeted today that he said previously that a government relying on Independents would be unstable.
“I didn’t think it would be unable to even elect a Taoiseach!” he said.
A strange and chaotic day. If today is anything to go by, we could be in for a bumpy ride with this new government. Will we have a new Taoiseach tomorrow? That’s tomorrow’s problem for now.
Now all we need is the GP’s
Must be an election looming.
@B1Chris: Damned if they do, and if they don’t
@SF Means Sh!t 4 Free: Along with a free house to go back to with free electricity and gas and a collection of money trees in the back garden. Those pesky earners over 100k can pay for it.
@B1Chris: why? Expansion of medical cards has been an ongoing policy, personally I’d prefer to see a nominal charge than have it for free.
@SF Means Sh!t 4 Free: FFG certainly are in a giving away mode as the election draws closer. The money tree FFG/ Greens stated didn’t exist suddenly appeared…The borrowing of Money that FFG / Greens stated would be imprudent suddenly went out the window…On top of the € 60 Billions still owed by the Irish people Seems FFG/ Greens are in panic mode… It was not so long ago the Blueshirt/ So called Labour tried to take back medical cards from the most vulnerable …Seem to remember it was connected to the austerity that was to repay for the gangsterism of the banks and developers facilated by FF/ Greens..Funny old world when the pox and the Plague plus the Greens now try to save themselves..Hypocrisy at it’s best
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@Jason Memail: If you move to many counties in Ireland you can’t even register for a GP, they are not taking anymore patients, so what is the point of extending the scheme until they fix the number of GP’s there are available?
One of the greatest bluffers of all time is this guy. Woeful.
@Chris Finch: back in the real world, he’s been one of most effective Ministers for Health in decades.
@Oisin CK: head on in to UHL and spin that tune to those dying on trolleys and their families. No hope, no dignity. That’s the real world my friend.
@Oisin CK: Ohhh ye deluded tool. Vote the MUPPET back in again to our detriment jayus.
@Chris Finch: Regular contributor on here, “The Risen”, called Stephen Donnelly “The best TD in the Dáil”.
What exactly is the income limit? This is a key element missing from the article
Good to know children after 8 years of age don’t get sick.
@Michaela Coelho: anyone can apply for the medical card or gp card. Its means tested & If youre eligble you will get it.
It’s aged up to 69 depending on income, 70 and over already have free GP cards.
That whole scheme is a joke. My daughter has to pay a GP privately (€60) per visit,because all GP’s lists in her area are full for her 1 year old. Obviously no way of claiming these private fees back either. She can drive 60 kms to our original family GP, but who does that with a sick infant. This latest announcement is just bs from government and I wish all those newly elligible good luck finding a doctor firstly and if they do, one that actually answers the phone to give you an appointment. The system is broken badly.
@John Merriman: we had the same issue with our twins,you need two refusals,you then go to the HSE,fill out a form accompanied by the refusal emails and they will assign you one,in our case we were assigned a gp practise who knocked us back in the first place,the mind boggles.
Vincent Browne had the measure of this Muppet
This is a rehash of the press release with the income details missing as contained in the press release on gov.ie
Just me or did anyone else just get a flashback to circa 2021 because of that thumbnail. “901 cases recorded. X in hospital, including Y in ICU”
Everyone under 69??? Criteria please?
Means tested..it is or it isn’t., maybe or not, could be ,but maybe not,yes but you don’t… reapply..
Nice.
I think all minimum wage earners should be entitled to a full medical card, the €184 threshold hasn’t been increased in 20 years, this should move inline with both the minimum wage. There are millionaires in this wonderful country of ours with full medical cards and paying exorbent private health insurance premiums, the rich get richer while the rest of us have to pay for everything and wait years for appointments/surgeries if we live long enough
I was on the fence but now definitely voting FFG next time around.
Pensioners?
have your say