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A QUESTION OF confidence hangs over Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy this evening after chaotic scenes in the Dáil today.
A motion to create a new speaking slot for government backbenchers and independents was carried, but there was shouting and unruly scenes in the chamber as a result.
The House was suspended and ended up being adjourned by the Ceann Comhairle, with no vote being held on the Order of Business today, something that has angered the opposition.
During the back and forth between TDs and the Ceann Comhairle today, Murphy repeatedly stated that it was clear that many in the House did not respect her, as she ordered them to take their seats and be quiet.
Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy shouted at Murphy that her actions of pushing forward with a vote on changing speaking rights was doing her office a “huge disservice”.
In a statement this evening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the scenes in the Dáil marked “a new low in the behaviour of the opposition”.
“Despite listening respectfully to the questions posed by opposition deputies, my attempts to answer were constantly and systematically interrupted and shouted down.
“It was nothing less than a premeditated attempt to suppress the rights of others to speak, and to bully and intimidate the Ceann Comhairle,” he said.
Today’s events were the latest development in the speaking rights row, which has created an impasse in the parliament and has prevented the progression of legislation after four independent TDs sought to take seats in opposition after negotiating the programme for government.
The Dáil voted 94 to 74 to pass the controversial rule change which changes how speaking rights are carved up. However, the opposition have tonight contested the ratification of the vote.
The combined opposition proposal to amend the Government’s motion was never put to a vote. After the vote was held, Murphy said that one side “have, without good reason, refused to sign the teller sheet”. Therefore, the motion was carried, she said.
Putting forward a united front, opposition leaders speaking to the media on the Leinster House plinth this evening failed to voice their confidence in Murphy.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik stated it is “difficult” to maintain confidence in the Ceann Comhairle following developments in the Dáil today.
“We were particularly dismayed and disappointed to see the Ceann Comhairle moving to push through the order of business and ignoring the calls of dissent that were clearly being registered by members of the Opposition,” she said.
Bacik added: “It’s very, very difficult to see that happen, very difficult to maintain confidence in the office of somebody chairing a chamber in that way.”
Former Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil, Fianna Fáil’s Sean O’Fearghail, who had put his name forward for the position for another five years, but lost out to Murphy, was seen with his head in his hands during some of today’s proceedings.
Speaking to another veteran Fianna Fáiler in the chamber, TD Pat “the Cope” Gallagher, he could be seen saying: “I’ve never seen the likes of it”.
Labour’s Alan Kelly held a similar view today, stating that what happened today was “unprecedented”, calling it “undemocratic”.
“I believe it will have consequences for the government,” he said.
Kelly said it is important that the Ceann Comhairle is independent from government, adding:
“Today was coordinated. It seemed totally coordinated between the government, the Ceann Comhairle, the officials and the Chief Whip,” he said.
Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald said that Murphy had done “substantial damage” to her office, stating that it had caused huge alarm among the opposition.
She accused the Ceann Comhairle of behaving in a manner that was more like a mudguard for the government rather than an impartial player.
When asked if she had confidence in the Ceann Comhairle and if a motion of no confidence was being considered, she said the opposition would have to reflect on the matter “very, very carefully”.
People Before Profit-Solidarity’s Richard Boyd Barrett has also suggested a motion of no confidence could be put forward, criticising the manner in which the Ceann Comhairle handled the issue today.
He told the media that she allowed for the vote today to be rammed through the Dáil, stating:
“I certainly would imagine there will be a discussion about whether there might be a no confidence vote in the Ceann Comhairle.”
While the Dáil resumes tomorrow morning, more disruption is predicted, with the opposition stating that the matter is not over.
McDonald said the government was the disruptor of Dáil business today, which she said affects the ability of politicians to do their work.
“Everything is still on the table… we’re not simply just going to acquiesce to all of this, you can be sure of that,” said the Sinn Féin leader.
Bacik agreed, stating that the Labour Party would be consulting with members and will meet again tomorrow morning “to see what we can do about this”.
“But it certainly will not end here,” she said.
While opposition members consider their next move, backbench Fianna Fáil TDs said there was an element of bullying of the Ceann Comhairle today.
They said the “chanting and standing” did not show respect to the Ceann Comhairle.
The Taoiseach said this evening that he believes many in opposition were focused only on undermining the newly-elected government, saying that the opposition have been “completely disproportionate” in their reaction today.
“There are many serious and profound issues to be debated and legislated for in the Dáil in the weeks ahead, such as protecting our economy and jobs, building homes and improving disability services, notwithstanding the global challenges. My government is focused on getting on with that important work,” said Martin.
Commenting after today’s proceedings a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said there was an effort to intimate the Ceann Comhairle today, stating that she dealt with very difficult circumstances before her. However, he stopped short of calling it misogynistic.
The Ceann Comhairle at one point during the chaos made reference to misogyny in the chamber today.
When asked about the matter, McDonald said: “Misogyny had nothing to do with whatsoever.”
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Why are travellers considered a vulnerable group again? Most people feel vulnerable in the presence of them
Polemic for green thumbs
FF and reform have being an excellent combination before. Such a crap bill from them.
Ronan, sound like one of those totally biased comment that is of course unless you have fully read the proposed bill which from the tone of your comment you have not but then you would say you have even if you did not. Good that you recognise that FF and reform are an excellent combination though!
Reform of the Seanad is a waste of time and energy. We need electoral and Dail reform. Reform of the Seanad would just be an exercise in “mass distraction”.
I think that’s finally sinking in for people now. Party list or MMR would eliminate the parish pump, public financed elections and lobbying reform would eliminate power of special interests. Giving the president reference to the people power for bills on his own would cut down on uturns and broken promises post election. Tinkering with the senates not going to get us anywhere the bad decisions that got this state into trouble were made in the dail and the cabinet and at closed functions with special interests that’s where reform needs to b focused.
There will be plenty of reform very soon this gov has to and will go to the park very soon
The absolute cynicism and contempt with which FG conducted the Seanad referendum was a disgrace .You would think kenny would have learnt a touch of humility from the kicking he took from voters, but as we’ve seen since the GSOC debacle, he’s still conducting himself the same way.
The way I look at it is that it wasn’t Kenny who took the kicking but rather the voters themselves who are on the receiving end – we have to pay for it and, possibly worse still, put up with this constant stream of proposed reforms that will never happen. We made our bed – I just wish that now we’d lie quietly in it.
‘currently “ignored” representatives of people with disabilities, the elderly and the Travelling community’ Aren’t the elderly already well represented? given the age profile of our public representatives?
There is not one Tasmanian in the Dáil or Seanad. I think this is a disgrace, How can we sleep at night.
Why only those select groups, why not every ethnic minority, race and fungi the dolphin, sure he’s nearly human.
The Seanad is fine as is.
Stupid idea is stupid.
“The Seanad is fine as it is”.
Thanks for the laugh.
The Seanad IS fine as it is – a totally irrelevant home for the semi-retired and the unelectable – paid for by me and thee. What could be finer?
The irish electorate have a wonderful way of mentally inserting things into referendum proposals that aren’t there..the senate one was about reform Lisbon was about abortion, gays, enshrining or destroying neutrality depending who you spoke to. Reform was NOT on the ballot paper. Your choice was keep a chamber of wannabes n hasbeens or loose it, u decided to keep it, under there logic that this chamber, which had never once checked govt power and had never used one of its main powers of review, article 27, should be kept…because its a critical check on govt power.
Many of us tried desperately before the election to explain the illogic of that to the public and tried to tell you that they would never give u real reform but you would not listen. Remember that in 2016 when the candidate nobody in your area voted for suddenly has the title ‘senator’ and a seat in parliament anyway. You made an adult choice and didnt heed warnings that it was a bad one. Learn from it.
Well said Ryan!!
Not true. The government were trying to sneak in other reforms as well and these were also rejected.
Talking about his Mehole again
Typical politician’s this is designed not to represent the people of this country but to look good in Europe
I really hope #BrassNeckNomination doesn’t become a thing…
I hope it does James,,a monthly ‘brass neck’ winner should be announced , the preceding months recipient could hand over a trophy to the incoming ….see who gets it most often …
Gerry Adams can be the brass neck patron
Marginalised groups including Eu foreign nationals living and working in ireland should be represented inthe Seanad particularly as they are not given the opportunity to vote in Irish elections.
You see my point everyone has their own ideas and all the people with them hate the other guys ideas..senate reform is a mirage it can’t b done we should just get rid of it. That doesn’t mean giving the govt more power (the senates never been a barrier to govt power, by design) we can giver further review powers to the president let them refer major proposals that were not in msnefestos or that break election pledges to referendum on presidents absoloutr discretion. There u have a major check on govt without need for an extra 60unelected politicos and the cost of keeping them
The Shinners probably want gun men representatives in the chamber.
I spent months being lambasted on this site for telling you over and over again they would not give you real reform and you were being duped. This is a case where I hate to have been right.
I told you a second chamber can only be one of two things a source of deadlock or rubber stamp as all the proposals show. I told you everybody has their own vision of what reform looks like and all those visions contradict each other. Most importantly I told you that it’s not in the nature of any power structure in this case the government to hand over a potential barrier 2 or limit of its own power. The government would have been crazy from a political perspective to create a radically reformed senate that could be controlled by the opposition and cause US style gridlock, it was never going to happen.
Go back and look up what I said hear me now quote me later.. I told you they would do some tinkering with the university seats and call that reform because it does not require a referendum.
All you did by voting no, and noamount of thumbs down will change this fact, was give the people who you reject in 2016 a six figure salary and seat in Parliament anyway. Senate reforms a mirage and a distraction from the real changes that are needed in our political system.
labour party and fg will be thankful the seanad will be there for the seat losers to have some were to go after next election
I think the important point in this bill – which isn’t referred to above – is that the election of the bulk of senators will be opened up to the general electorate.
In other words, we can get to choose who is elected to the vocational panels – ie Education, Commerce, etc.
It mightn’t be total reform – you would need a referendum to go further – but it’s a step in the right direction….
Don’t be so naive this issue will fall off the radar and never be heard from again the senate is still with these changes a toothless rubber stamp that can’t block bills and if it could that would cause gridlock, there’s no way to win on this issue. So what if the public has vague input kinda sorta…u really think vocational experts will come out of this? PFF it will b the same tired old Greg suits as always. Besides we already have a chamber we elect properly so why would we need another one. The objective of the political establishment here is to tinker around the edges enough to shut reformers up all while avoiding real change and they’re all falling for it.
The Irish electorate always claim to not trust their political leaders but time after time they swollow their horse s1hit and say how tasty it is.
Can FF not accept the verdict of the electorate who voted to keep it as it is?
That is an absolutely false statement, Mark.
The public voted on it’s abolishment and were not given a reform option.
Having said that I don’t see much reform in the FF proposal. More like window dressing.
FF sat there for 15 years without reforming it as reform reports piled up. It can’t b reformed everyone has their own ideas and a consensus is not possible cos those ideas are so different.
I wish the electorate would forget what they learned in civics and CSPE and focus on how real world politics works. The kinda change most want.,a mirror of the fail with some differences around the edges would b expecting the govt to hand over a barrier to their own power..they won’t..FF don’t want such a limit when they’re in next time either which is why their proposals not serious. They want their bills to sail thru nice and quick without backbenchers offering ammrendments and picking them apart.
The big reforms we need are around election financing and the presidency this is a distraction.
Michael, I don’t see how my statement is absolutely false. The choice was to either abolish the Seanad or not. People chose not to abolish it – thereby maintaining the status quo.
One of the most important issues we have to resolve hasn’t even been discussed by our politicians while all this ‘He said this, I said that ‘ stuff is going on here, 90,000 homes need to be built , what scares me now are the salivating solicitors who’ll get millions while the homes remain unbuilt …
That’s a competitive category in Leinster House
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