We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
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.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Updated 8.50pm
THE DÁIL RESUMED after its summer break this afternoon and it didn’t take long for the chamber to descend into shouting and roaring.
As the government proposed to debate a motion of confidence it itself, the Taoiseach and the Attorney General in the wake of the Fennelly report, opposition politicians kicked up a stink.
On an at times bizarre first day back, Enda Kenny dropped a big hint about the date of the election, was staunchly (and loudly) defended by one of his ministers, and controversially opened a newsroom.
This afternoon, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin was particularly annoyed, saying the way business had been ordered by the government had shown “utter contempt” for the house.
He was particularly put out that there is no Order of Business today and that Leaders’ Question had been moved to the much later time of 7.30pm this evening. (In fact it didn’t take place until after 8pm.)
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams used the opportunity to ask the government to call an election immediately, saying the coalition is on “its last legs”.
Speaking for the Technical Group, Socialist TD Joe Higgins called for the amount of time devoted to the confidence motion debate – three hours – to be doubled.
He also hit out at Labour’s senior leaders claiming they are socialists:
TheJournal Politics / TwitterJoe Higgins: Bertie Ahern’s conversion to socialism had far more credibility than Labour’s #dail
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) September 22, 2015
Government chief whip Paul Kehoe insisted that a confidence motion always takes precedence over any other business in the Dáil. He pointed out that his had been the case when Martin was part of the last government.
But the Fianna Fáil leader wasn’t finished yet.
He took to his feet to ask why the Tánaiste, as deputy head of government, wasn’t speaking and, again, why Leaders’ Question could not be held earlier in the day.
“You want to shut down this house,” he claimed.
At this stage there was a lot of shouting from the government benches, prompting Martin to do a sort of ‘come at me, bro’ gesture:
Then Adams was up on his feet again to deliver perhaps the most appropriate remark of the day:
I think we should proceed, this has become another bout of Punch and Judy.
A vote was called – which the government won – and a three-hour debate on the Fennelly report followed. The confidence motion was eventually passed by 94 votes to 52.
Martin was still angry when Leaders’ Questions got underway just after 8.20pm.
He noted that the delay was due to the Taoiseach attending the opening of Independent News and Media’s new newsroom.
Independent.ie / Twitter'The amalgamation of print and digital is where you need to be' - Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaks at @INM_ie newsroom pic.twitter.com/cShnhFR4Rs
— Irish Independent (@Independent_ie) September 22, 2015
The Fianna Fáil leader again tried to probe the Fennelly issue.
He asked Kenny if he agreed with the evidence former tánaiste Eamon Gilmore gave to the commission which appeared to contradict the Taoiseach’s.
Martin accused Kenny of not telling the truth on the issue prompting the Fine Gael leader to hit back with this:
TheJournal Politics / TwitterEnda: It’s not the first time you’ve called people a liar, deputy Martin #dail #fennelly
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) September 22, 2015
The back-and-forth yielded very little new, before the Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett dryly noted:
It’s not a good idea to have Leaders’ Questions at half-eight at night, that’s all I’ll say.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Shouting, roaring and point scoring. Who else goes to work and carries on like this?? It’s pathetic! Wake up. There are more pressing matters at hand. if they put as much passion into actually running the country it would be a start.
Incompetent egos clashing with incompetent egos.
Two Government Parties FG / Lab. , the Blueshirts Puppy, who themselves are so totally out of control and who have lost almost all of the Citizens respect !
There can be no order or respect, now , until a General Election is held and Democracy is restored to Ireland and its people.
We will crush all opposition before us, Comrade Barretta.
Just looking at Noonan dryly reading off a script there, like he might nod off any moment, Kenny looking at his phone, apparently unwilling to stand up and defend himself…I have to wonder is this how they saw themselves when they entered politics? Were they ever idealistic?
I look at SAM Harris there much younger and I think have you become an establishment w-re already? Are you not bothered by this? The lack of passion, the paint by numbers stuff…it’s soo off putting it’s unreal, and the chamber 90% empty even for a vote that could take a govt down just shows what a circus this is
I’d nearly swear you said TEN weeks off?
complete and utter joke the dáil has become since FG & L came into power,
I thought the Muppet Show was on Sky..and in a few weeks time??
Has it changed at all Mick? At least FG use the guillotine without causing too much hassle. IW working out well for example.
Same circus. Mostly the same clowns.
I Red thumbed you in that one Diarmuid even though I agree with you.
Not before?
Anyone else notice the heavy garda presence around college green & Pearse St garda station today? Surely this isn’t because these clowns are back at ‘work?’ Expecting trouble from militant pensioners again Enda?
Spin Feign are back in Dublin. Why do you think the guards are around?
Fine Fail are back with the oracle Enda Kenny answering questions no one asked.
there’s a protest against homelessness and the guards are there in case all these awful homeless people cause a disturbance, the sheer cheek of people wanting a home to call their own.we wouldn’t want our beloved politions to have to put up with a crowd of boisterous louts.
i see when you point out that other political parties in this state have been involved in criminal activity that’s on the public record, your comment gets deleted, but it’s free bashing when it’s SF
Apparently if the crime is recent it’s ok to talk about it but if it’s pre-1980 it does not count, good news for SF they only have to wait a few years and the media won’t mention anything again? right?
It’s just a game to the politicians trying to get one up on the other party I’m sure they all have a good laugh about it in the bar at the end of the day
Cupid, probably to stop anyone feeding the homeless. People out feeding the homeless on Saturday last had their details taken by the Gardai and warned to pack up and get out of there, other wise their cars would be towed away and they would be fined. It is now a crime to feed the homeless.
We never left !
Does a single interview on the findings of fennelly, before anyone else has had a chance to read it, then closes down debate on the findings in the Dail chamber with this farcical ‘confidence motion’
Well ya can’t close down the polling stations kenny, and we WILL have our say.
Your crowd has taught him well shinnerbot.
I wouldn’t put it past them For Connolly, remember the “state of emergency” talk that was going round a little while ago and talk of extending the government’s term of office. Nothing is beyond the pale as far as this crowd of Tories is concerned.
I don’t often agree with Joe Higgins on anything, but I do respect him for at least having principles, I have to agree on Quinns rant about ”socialism”. The guys not even a social democrat , going by his record on third level fees he’s not even a bloody centirst.
The socialist position is free fees, the centrist (ff-fg) one is a graduate tax with no fees up front.
So what was Ruri the socialists position? He hiked the student contribution charge rather than abolishing it as promised, then proposed reintroduction of full fees WITHOUT any state loans…socialist? This is what Lab does it’s how they fooled people last time, the US Democrats do a great job of it too, they talk all progressive during the campaign but then soon as they are in power – nothing
It’s worth remembering – esp for those of us who are on the younger end of things – that FGers who think FF is going overboard with the whole Garda Commissioner thing ought to remember how smug and morally superior FG and lab used to be on the opposition benches, pure as the driven snow, now it shows how fast power corrupts, it took FF 15 years to adopt the kind of smugness you see on the govt benches now
Let the Punch and Judy show resume.
Have they no legislation to debate or pass. They need to do this Properly or a judge will undermine it.
well the same sex bill should be going fully through today if not for these stooooopid challenges
I thought the peace process was of paramount importance, what happened?
Oh my god would you not think that they have more important things to dealing with, jees you would loose faith in them all and I mean All of them.
In a way it is fitting – the general population have utter contempt for the inhabitants of the Oireachtas, why should they not have utter contempt for each other and for the irrelevant parliament they shite on about?
they are all a bunch of handbags in suits
Debate? You are kidding me how the hell can you have confidence in a leader who doesn’t understand what his actions when he sent the secretary to “update” the commissioner meant? Or an AG who changed her story….
Did any of them argue about being over paid and underworked,or about the stupid amount of time off they receive?
The nations favourite kids are finally back to play school.
F*cking clowns the lot of them
If Martin gets elected this country is finished altogether
People won’t surely vote him in….will they?
The Taoiseach has brought the government to the gutter!
The question is whether or not we expect some minimal truth and honesty from the Taoiseach or if we just don’t care about skulduggery and low standards in high places.
The first thing that this Taoiseach did when Toiseach was elected to confirm in a TV interview that he was willing to look at permitting Michael Lowry back into FG.
Fennelly did not do the State a service.
Fennelly allowed the public to decide for themselves.
What a stinking nest of Vipers and serpents
Jellyfish have more backbone than Kenny..will the bloody election ever come.
Michelle Mulherin is shouting in the Dail about who knows what and is getting loads of airtime on Today FM.. sad stuff..
I am sick to death of turning on the TV and see these children argue over things that are not a priority .I would love to see all party politics divide the work load and work together to get this Country moving in the right direction. It is so sad if Jerry Adams makes a valid point in the Dail and Enda Kenny or Joan Burton takes offence they starts throwing dirt about the North and the same with Fianna Fáil it’s all about the past .The only thing they won’t talk about is the cost of all the inquiries and at what cost to the Country and not one major player held responsible just the little fish easy pickings or the failed water charges company that has cost this country billions .
I just wish they would pull together and work for the country.
The only thing worse than the shadow boxing in the Dail is the rubbish comments on this site.
Do you need a loan? Do you need capital to start a business? get your loan today at(reachgibsonloan2015@outlook.com)
have your say