MARY LOU MCDonald was asked to remove a badge promoting a Yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum that she wore in the Dáil earlier today.
The Sinn Féin TD wore the badge as she posed questions to the Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin in the chamber this afternoon.
McDonald was asked to remove the ‘Tá Comhionannas’ (Yes Equality) badge by an usher during the proceedings, a Sinn Féin spokesperson confirmed.
The request was made in line with a long-standing tradition that Oireachtas members, staff and visitors should not wear emblems when in Leinster House. Several visitors to the Oireachtas have been asked to remove such emblems in recent weeks.
“Members, staff and visitors continue to cooperate on the longstanding protocol around emblems of a party political nature in the precincts of Leinster House,” an Oireachtas spokesperson said.
“From time to time, members and staff inadvertently display such emblems – for instance, on return from events outside the house. They invariably cooperate with the Leinster House ushers when reminded of this protocol.”
Several politicians have been spotted wearing badges promoting a Yes vote in the Oireachtas complex in recent weeks, including Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams who wore one during a recent Leaders’ Questions.
The Oireachtas spokesperson added: “As there has never been wilful and persistent breaching of this protocol, the question of sanction is in the hypothetical and does not arise.”
Separately, Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin was asked to remove a Yes Equality pin while appearing on RTÉ’s Saturday Night Show last weekend.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say