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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.”
When she was first appointed as CC a poster on here commented that she ‘ wouldn’t last long’….. I replied that she’ll ‘ go’ the full distance/ 5yrs. I’d like to change my prediction & agree fully with that poster. NO WAY this carry on & shenanigans can continue ad infinum
@Mary Linton: Stop the IRA takeover shinners showing their true colors the bullies rule ok
@Mary Linton: She’s not fit for the job. Remember when she said she had legal advice on Lowry’s grubby deal and then backtracked. At all times she is trying to appease FF/FG.
@Tim Brennan: Come off it for 10 minutes ffs and take off the goggles while you’re at it. This is a dispute about how democracy should work and how much we are prepared to allow it to be diluted. It’s actually a good fight on both sides. I am with the opposition here. The government are testing the public trust and acting in what I believe to be bad faith. Have you seen what’s happening in the world ffs?. This is a good sign of our democracy. Let it rage on.
@Mary Linton: do you mean ad infinitum? Chancer
@Mary Linton: opposition not fit for purpose, throwing the toys out of the pram today when they don’t get their own way. The soc dems and Labour had both an opportunity to be part of government and refused, the shinners can’t get anyone to join them, plus they have brought in Jarry Adams for various negotiations even though he is ‘retired’
@Tim Brennan: sure didn’t ould charlie arm the IRA
@Tim Brennan: there’s really no need to display your ignorance and lack of understanding. Everyone who regularly reads the comment section already knows. The IRA are not represented in the Dail. It’s not just Sinn Fein who are challenging the government and criticising the CC. All opposition parties are challenging & all educated, right-thinking voters also disagree. Time for a new election because this Dail is never going to be effective.
@Tim Brennan: Oh, the shinners seem to be the only ones in opposition in your eyes, tim. Fffg has bullied the public for 100 years. Take your mehole bootlicking somewhere else. You’re getting very boring.
@Social Guy: time for a new election? Why? Shinner.
@Paul Gorry: Imagine if Micheal treated his fellow Irish with the same deference he treated Trump.
@Philip Kennedy: ye sad losers in the ‘ spelling’ police get paid much?? LOL
@Mary Linton: ignore that troll Mary. …that’s just one of brennys latest crop
@Paul Gorry: you’re boring all the time. Very boring.
@Mary Linton: That would have been true before. But you’re commenting 24/7 for a long time now. If you had any brain at all, your spelling and grammar should be improving. I know, I know; you’re just having fun…. Nobody buys that any more. Get a hobby dude.
@Paul Gorry: I doubt if Tim Brennan has any interest in your rear end.
@Philip Kennedy: You’re boring all the time. Very very boring.
@Buster Lawless: yeah, guessed as much, cheers
@Vincent Alexander: Who knows these days, Vincent? You could be very wrong with that comment!
@Tim Brennan: You are losing you s*** big time now Timmy. It’s sensational to watch!!!
@Tim Brennan: can you not talk about anyone else except SF and IRA your obsessed, you must be having nightmares Timothy, maybe you need to go to shrink, and face your demons.
@Tim Brennan: So, in your very warped view of the world SF includes the Labour Party, PBP, Greens?
@Phillip Smyth: and maybe after a few sessions with a the SF councilor, you will be new man.
@Tim Brennan: we all know how SF/IRA treat women
@Social Guy: dogs in the street know who really controls the Shinners. Hint: balaclavas
Doesn’t take much for the opposition to show their true fascist colours
She did an amazing job of not being intimidated by the subhuman fascists
@Johnny Wilson: Oh, look the 2025 version of ” Here’s Johnny.” What is it with mad Johnny’s. It is very disturbing, so it is .
@Tim Brennan: I don’t see the point you’re trying to make! No one is talking about a takeover except the Taoiseach; his way or no way. The electorate doesn’t like what is happening and fully supports the opposition parties.
@Patrick MC Dermott: She is well fit for the job the carry on yesterday demeans us all the shouting & roaring from the opposition was discraceful the Government is in since last november & here we are 5 months on & all the work that needs attention is instead a circus there has to be a better way to sort out whats happening, People are getting sick & tired of the sinanagans in the Dail & then they wonder why people don’t vote
@Tim Brennan: shhh
@Philip Kennedy: You’re a ‘kin gobdaw
The Ceann Comhairle. Should be a judge picked at random for a 10 year term. The idea you can be impartial and be part of the party in charge is just a joke.
@Jimmy Donovan: Agreed. What does “randomly picked” mean though? It could just be a lottery picked judge, but it’s hard to find someone without leanings. The problem here is a good faith one.
@Jimmy Donovan: Connoly was leas ceann last term, she was a member of the opposition
@Louis Jacob: could u imagine judge martin nolan as cc, jesus the place would be a lunatic asylum, more so that what it is now
This is an attack on democracy no matter what ffg say ,no matter how small ,how can sean canny or any other of the Independents call themselves Independent then allow M lowry to agree a programme for government on their behalf, these Independents are a political party in everything but name
@james harte: how is a majority vote an attack on democracy?
@Johnny Wilson: examples are countless ,
I’m no SF fan, but it’s not the opposition undermining democracy. It’s FFG shysters and crook Lowry.
@Daniel Gilroy: Anyone who disarms the shinners the safer Ireland is
@Daniel Gilroy: Verona Murphy is a total disaster – no qualms whatsoever about her partisan carryon breaking parliamentary rules, precedents, ethics, or the constitution to facilitate FFG/Lowry mobsters pushing through their corrupt racketeering, and her pathetic attempts to compromise the opposition’s mandate to hold this corrupt government accountable for the numerous scandals people of Ireland deserve answers to!
I’ll do the CC job, sounds like a great gig
Regrettably, Verona appears to be a toothless tiger—ineffectual and incapable of meaningful impact. Meanwhile, the conduct within the chamber has descended into behavior that is nothing short of disgraceful. It is time for a new election to allow the people to determine who genuinely deserves to represent them. Should Lowry secure re-election, it would raise serious questions about the integrity of the voting process in that constituency. It is difficult to fathom how any informed voter could overlook his long-standing reputation as a political opportunist.
@Nemethon: we had an election 4months ago.
U don’t get to re run it because u didn’t like the result. The people elected this government
@John Purcell: The people didn’t elect Verona use less Murphy as CC though… she needs to go. She threw her electorate under the bus when she took that role, now they have no repesentation.
@Nemethon: should he secure re election? He would walk it he has topped the poll for years & will do so again what do u think would be different ?
@Nemethon: The way the cards have fallen since November would suggest that this government is already on its last legs. It would be interesting to see how the scandal ridden FF would do if we had an election tomorrow.
Verona your not suitable to hold this job, and so far you have not shown any ability to do so, I’m afraid your going to be the first bystander to go of this debacle, and you were never right for the job, your CV shows that.
@Phillip Smyth: you basically are a bystander no one is listening to you, your like a fish wife.
Typical right wing strategy of disruption. Sadly this was invited by the Dail in their choice of Ceann Comhairle.
She is unable at any level to control proceedings in the Dáil. Did she get the job because she was a woman regardless of ability or did she get it on merit. The slug that is Michael Lowry is allowed to smirk while giving the two fingers to Paul Murphy and nothing happens.MM once again tries to ram his narrative through showing once again the total pri ck he is.
@Gerry Lamont: The kidnapper will be ok
@Gerry Lamont: Pierluigi Collina couldn’t handle that behaviour.
@Gerry Lamont: If he behaved like that in the house of commons he’d be resigning by now ,much as we like to think we’re superior
@Gerry Lamont: Post is a reflection on the quality of the opposition following and not on the government.
Well done to Lowry
@Tim Brennan: Who is this imaginary kidnapper you obsess about, was he/she apprehended by the Gardaí and sentenced?
CC must go – incompetent FFG must go – incompetent
OPPOSITION – must unite
GE needed – people deserve better governance
@Grainne Kelly: shinners are out tonight.
@Philip Kennedy: so are the Bots !!
@Philip Kennedy: Can you name any other opposition parties or are the shinners the only one’s you’ve heard of?
Time for f.f and f.g to amilgate and take crooked lowry with them
The electorate need to learn the lesson of not voting for independents, a shower of vested interests looking after their own little patch. This is what happens when they are let loose. The bullying of the CC is nothing short of a disgrace.
The woman is totally unsuitable for the role.
Sack her
NOW
Load of waffle year in year out same parties in power throwing the few crumbs near election time then same all over. We are in deep s### with the housing crisis accelerating well beyond the point of no return with tweedle dum and tweedle dee at the helm. An absolute mess with a bunch of shitstirs pointing blame from one to the other doing the term getting the lump sum and pension and heading off into the sunset. Until accountability ever becomes a real thing in this country it’ll never change.
A government full of shysters. A national disgrace.
@Daniel Gilroy: An opposition full of IRA sympathizers
@Tim Brennan: aren’t you scared? I would be if I pissed them off so much like you seem to do…
The really feel that CC is a vital problem in the present setup, she is shouting them down very aggressively and annoying tone at everything, she started on the wrong foot, and went in with that attitude from the start, it’s gone to the stage now where the government are starting to think they made a mistake.
What do you expect from a truck driver?
@Ben dover: I think 90% of the people here don’t realise thats her trade… an artic driver. Maybe she makes a good TD, but definitely not able for the CC job. Shes a dis grace.
@Steve Davis: She’s related to one of the big players in the Esat Digifone scam that made Lowry rich and DOB richer.
‘a new low for the opposition’ said the man who has proven he can crawl under a snakes belly.
Children behave better.
@P0h2YVAL: that’s all you can compare them to, especially the Loony Left- who have nothing to offer except blaggardism and chaos.
It’s like the classroom brats and bullies are sensing a nervous new teacher and are determined to cause as much disruption as possible.
On a positive note, at least they’re not doing any harm with hate speech laws, OTB legislation, undermining women in the home and all the other daft stuff they dream up.
Stop their pay and I bet they will quickly cop on
@Tim Brennan: cop on
@Ken Coldrick: on cop
Its hilarious watching the opposition in complete meltdown. They need to realise they are completely irrelevant in Irish political circles.
@Rian O’Sullivan: Irrelevant is even too kind
@Tim Brennan: just like all of your posts!!!
Hunger strike is the only option, would be hilarious like the last one lol
problem here is tick Irish will go to Dublin en mass and march for palatine in the thousands and when fffg corrupt traitors are shafting their own people encouraging their own to emigrate and setting up ipas center’s all over the country to replant the natives with non EU types and throw millions abroad the Irish wouldn’t cross the road about it .S Meehan is great example on his way to jail for putting a roof over his head at 67 years of age .have Irish become the snake people now
@jn: incoherent.
@jn: To be fair a lot of those Palestine protectors are paid NGO workers. When Trumps tariffs hit in April it will be a different story. The money won’t be there like it was to pay for all the waste.
Stop the pay of all these w,*nker’s
@Tim Brennan: better to take access to the internet for people like yourself
@Tim Brennan: Stop your dole!!
@Tim Brennan: get yourself an edumacation
The shouting in the Dáil is absolutely appalling and an insult to the Electorate, it is high time a halt was called to this Silly show and in particular Sinn Féin and P. Murphy and his mini-Party.
@James Keogh: sk um doing what they do
Verona Murphy is a working class mother, self made. She should stay for sure. Let, smoked salmon types stew – to mix a few metaphors.
@Del Ray: she’s a racist old wagon
@sean weir: she is amazing
@Mike Doe: …only if you’re a Lorry driver looking for a good time. But she hasn’t a clue what shes at in the Dail.
@Del Ray: she’s a snakey phuck
The Shinners(zombies) and the rest of the opposition have a new mantra: ” Micheal Lowry” “Michael Lowry”, just keep repeating it at every opportunity. Yet, if the numbers matched up, they’d gladly have accepted him into the tent to take power. Irish politics at it’s best.
Mayo for the national league title
Just saying
Now back to Dublin lol
Democratic leaders do not have support in government coming from a person they stated on the Dail record is not fit for office . Michael Martin words on the man giving the two fingers to us all.
I imagine the housing crisis , health issues will be sorted by the star of the theatricals caused by this government grubby dealings with the new friend who happily gave us the two fingers today. Opposition are right to resist this and call it out for what it is “stroke politics”
In fairness to Verona she ain’t got a chance with the bullying going on no meeting can be conducted if everyone is shouting at each other. One speaks at a time and then allows others to respond you don’t have to agree but this carry on is bullying plain and simple
@Tim Brennan: Meanwhile, sneaky snake lowry ( yes, that lowry still relevant for some reason) sticks two fingers up like an ff politican always does. And just to add insult to injury watching the tonight show on virgin tonight fg Td james ( whatever his surname is) failed to call it out when asked the question. It’s too late now, FFFG is in bed together. Gangster’s is what they are. But in your simple mind, it’s the shinners’ fault. This country is lost. I’m glad you’re happy, dim tim.
sinn Fein needs to get back to its 1980s party style for working class native Irish representative since ye went to Dublin in 90s ye got taken over by woke save the world agree with fffg crap , clean out at top badly needed ,all opposition having got the votes to affect ffg for next 5 years , snake Lowry on a winner till golden pension then he 72 now ,
@jn: Listen all politicians are suckers for money. Deduct or stop their pay until they all cop on to themselves. No money will quickly get them to calm their jets
@jn: you mean back to murder, rape and abuse of innocent civilians?
@Tim Brennan: But here’s dim tim trying to sound like he knows what he’s talking about. You’re slowly but surely turning into a “clown ” in front of our very eyes.
Real bang of “We need a male teacher for this class” !! Absolutely shameful in this day and age the disrespect that is being shown for the position of CC, for the Dáil and the democratic process. Tate-o flavoured crisps anyone?
While the people in Gaza, blah, blah, blah.
@Ichabod Crane: Burn,burn,burn ,blah blah, and all that .
I don’t understand why a group of TDs are trying to both be members of the administration AND have the right to sit on the opposition benches.
I thought this kind of insanity was the domain of the US government…
And all the while she collects 227K , what an absolute disgrace
She’s painful to look at and listen to.. replace with a better hairdo.
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