Government ‘hell-bent on rewriting rules’, Cork opposition TD says

Cork members of opposition parties have criticised the Government’s handling of the Dáil speaking time debacle following a vote of confidence in the Ceann Comhairle passing on Tuesday night.

Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Regional Independents voted in favour of a Government motion expressing confidence in Verona Murphy as ceann comhairle, and voted against an opposition amendment saying that in order for the ceann comhairle to fulfil her obligations as set out under Standing Order 10, she must retain the confidence of both the Government and opposition.

It further noted “that the ceann comhairle no longer retains the confidence of opposition TDs of this House”. The amendment was defeated by 96 votes to 71, with the two Aontú TDs abstaining.

Speaking after the vote, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire told The Echo that, in his party’s view, “the Dáil did not have to get to the situation that they did”.

“The Government went to the wire and beyond for Michael Lowry,” he said.

“A solution was on the table last week, and they went against it.

“The ceann comhairle, unfortunately, allowed and facilitated the Government getting their way, and their standing orders through,” he said.

“It has been a very frustrating period and the fundamental point remains. You cannot be in Government and opposition at the same time.

“We will be getting on with the substantive issues, and holding Government to account, even as they try and dilute the role of the opposition.”

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice, agreed, saying the issue “was a mess entirely of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s making”.

“They were hell-bent on rewriting the rules of the Dáil to facilitate a deal.

“In the process, they bulldozed through the democratic processes.

“As a result of what happened, the majority of the opposition lost confidence in the ceann comhairle. Now that the vote is over, it is incumbent on the Government to set up Dáil committees and finally get down to detailed legislative work.”