Ceann Comhairle's lack of Irish called out after Taoiseach allegedly uses Irish to break Dáil rules

Ellen O'Donoghue

A row broke out in the Dáil after the Taoiseach was accused of using Irish to break the Dáil rules.

In a debate about housing, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said, as Gaeilge, that the Sinn Féin leader was "ag insint bréaga," which means 'telling lies'.

Mary Lou McDonald took exception to this, demanding the Taoiseach withdraw the remark.

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty accused the Taoiseach of taking advantage of the fact Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy does not speak Irish.

Ms McDonald asked to raise a point of order and asked for the Taoiseach to withdraw his comment, saying that she was telling the truth.

“The Taoiseach took advantage perhaps of you not following. He called me a liar. Bhí mé ag insint an fhírinne [I was telling the truth]. He said through Gaeilge so I would like him to remove that from the record, thank you.”

The Ceann Comhairle then asked the Taoiseach to withdraw what he said “if he made those remarks”.

"I can't rule on what I didn't hear. I accept that you believe it was said, the Taoiseach has said he hasn't said it, and we can look back," Ms Murphy said.

Under the rules of the Dáil, TDs are restricted in what they can say about other TDs. As part of the restrictions, TDs must not state that another member is guilty of “being deceitful”.

As part of the Ceann Comhairle job, Ms Murphy has the authority to suppress disorder, to enforce obedience to rulings.

According to Oireachtas.ie, when TDs and Senators speak Irish in the Houses, their contributions are simultaneously translated for Members who do not speak Irish, and members of either House of the Oireachtas are allowed to speak Irish or English during proceedings in the Dáil, Seanad, and committees.