‘Shame! Shame! Shame!’ Government accused of ‘sticking two fingers up’ to public

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Michael Lowry, who is at the centre of a dispute that divided the Dáil, stuck two fingers up to members of the opposition as proceedings were adjourned amid chaotic scenes.

“Shame! Shame! Shame!” came the chorus of opposition TDs, as the Government benches emptied at following a highly contentious vote.

The Government’s majority meant it was able to push through significant changes to speaking rules in the Dáil, even without the usual opposition teller agreeing to sign off on the results of the vote.

The announcement that the changes had passed caused such a level of objection from the opposition that the Ceann Comhairle adjourned all further proceedings until Wednesday morning.

People Before Profit-Solidary TD Paul Murphy took out his mobile phone to film the Government leaving the chamber as they were heckled by a united opposition.

The footage, posted to X, pans to independent TD Michael Lowry, who is seen sticking two fingers up to the camera.

Mr Lowry is at the epicentre of the opposition’s ire. The former Fine Gael minister was previously found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was “profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking”.

Despite this, Mr Lowry was a key negotiator for a group of independents who agreed to support the formation of a Government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Some members of the bloc of independents were given junior ministries, while Mr Lowry and others were not.

Since then, the Government’s moves to change speaking rights in the Dáil to give these Government-aligned independents more speaking time has been described as “brazen stroke politics” by detractors.

The opposition want these independents to be defined as Government TDs, but the changes made by the coalition allow them to be characterised as “other members”.

Mr Murphy was forced to end his video after a Dáil usher intervened, however, he had already captured an image that came to define the chaotic proceedings.

The opposition immediately seized Mr Lowry’s gesture as a metaphor for how it believed the Government was treating the Dáil and the “people of this country”.

Mr Lowry later told The Journal that he was gesturing for Mr Murphy to sit down.

TDs are normally not allowed take photographs or videos in the Dáil chamber, but the incident was not the only subversion of parliamentary norms on Tuesday.

The leaders of the main opposition parties met to agree strategy ahead of the Dáil reconvening. That played out in interruptions that increased in volume and frequency as proceedings progressed.

Watched on from busy press and public galleries, Taoiseach Micheál Martin largely kept his gaze towards his notes as Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald fired the first salvo during Leaders’ Questions and accused the Taoiseach of making a “mockery” of the Dáil.

Mr Lowry, who entered the chamber several minutes after proceedings got under way, was in time to hear Ms McDonald say that the changes were an “utterly absurd spectacle” for his benefit.

Mr Martin was widely heckled as he defended the Government’s stance amid a cacophony of jeers, interruptions and tut-tutting.

He said: “I have never before witnessed political parties trying to tell others what box they are in or what group they belong to.”

Early in the exchanges, the Taoiseach made a point of saying he had not interrupted anyone. However, the interjections would continue throughout the truncated sitting.

Sinn Féin representatives asked Mr Martin what Mr Lowry had on him, then asking the independent TD for Tipperary North if he wished to make a statement to the Dáil.

Mr Lowry and his partner in the independent group, Barry Heneghan, laughed and waved at the Sinn Féin TDs as they continued shouting.

The Fianna Fáil leader accused the opposition of engaging in a “feigned outrage” over “modest” proposals.

He laughed down a suggestion from Independent Ireland founder Michael Collins that it was a “dark day for democracy”, responding: “You can’t be serious. Come on, it’s farcical.”

Mr Lowry, who at times shook his head and checked his watch, observed from a distance.

By his side sat other independents who had supported the formation of Government, including Mr Heneghan and Gillian O’Toole.

On more than one occasion, Ms O’Toole could be seen raising her phone with the flash on.

Tension in the chamber escalated as Leaders’ Questions drew to a close, with the order of business due to be voted on.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy read from a hand-written note to say she was moving directly to the Government’s motion amid the disorder.

This was met with widespread objection from opposition TDs, some of whom started a slow clap in protest.

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said Ms Murphy was doing her office a “huge disservice” and told her she was elected to her post as part of “Micheál’s grubby deal with Michael Lowry”.

Ms Murphy twiddled her thumbs and stared ahead as she was berated by members of the opposition during the tolling of bells for the upcoming vote – which passed in favour of the Government.

The opposition said they had not been afforded their opportunity to bring their amendment to the Government’s motion, turning their disapproval to the Ceann Comhairle.

Ms Murphy’s position has now come into question, with the opposition parties refusing to express confidence in her when asked at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

The Dáil reconvenes under the new rules on Wednesday morning but with the same opposition objections.