The abrupt ending to yesterday’s Dáil business by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy leaves the Dáil in uncharted territory today. There were unruly scenes as the Ceann Comhairle proceeded with the vote on the controversial new schedule of speaking rights in the Dáil yesterday. The Opposition tellers refused to sign the voting record sheet in protest. The Ceann Comhairle abruptly adjourned the Dáil until 9am today as the combined opposition would not take their seats to allow Taoiseach’s Questions to take place.
Opposition party leaders are to meet this morning to discuss the possibility of putting down a no confidence motion in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.
The TD at the centre of the dispute over speaking rights for members of the Regional Independent Group(RIG) that are not members of Government, Michael Lowry, is also facing scrutiny for a two-fingered gesture he made in the Dáil yesterday to People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy. In a response to Tipp Mid West Radio Deputy Lowry says as Deputy Murphy was using his phone to record in the Dáil against Dáil rules he was “beckoning him over to ask him to desist”.
The Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy accused TDs of failing to respect the Chair, Opposition TDs are accusing the Ceann Comhairle of not being fair and keeping to a previous ruling that the RIG are not in Opposition while Taoiseach Micheál Martin believes the Opposition is attempting to bully and intimidate the Ceann Comhairle.
