The Dáil has heard claims of “vicious personal attacks” and “attempts to undermine and degrade” as a motion of confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy was tonight passed by 96 votes to 71. The vote came in the aftermath of a heated debate which heard claims of toxicity, “personal attacks and intimidation” which one TD said served as an advertisement for women “to stay away from Irish political life.”
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy made a brief statement to the House at the end of the debate, saying that while it was “regrettable” that the issue of speaking rights could not be resolved by consensus despite her attempts to mediate, she harbours “no ill will” to those who opposed her.
“It goes without saying that in the absence of consensus” those dissenting “are bound to be unhappy,” Deputy Murphy said tonight.
“In conclusion, I wish to assure all members on all sides of this house, I bear no ill will, and my door is always open.
“I will continue to uphold my solemn declaration to vindicate the rights of all members and administer the rules chosen by members of this house, impartially and fairly alongside the independent, loyal and hardworking staff of my office.”
The debate heard a range of opposing views, with Independent TD Carol Nolan slating her former party Sinn Fein, and hitting out at Mary Lou McDonald’s treatment of Verona Murphy.
“I will be voting in support of the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy. From one female politician to another female, and as one who has had more than her fair share of spite and political attacks to contend with – particularly from one party here,” Nolan said in reference to Sinn Fein.
“I will not sit on the fence as others have done as attempts are made to what amounts to a coercive form of democratic vandalism to the Constitutional offices of this State. The Ceann Comhairle was elected here by the majority of this House, whether you like it or not,” Deputy Nolan added.
“And the Ceann Comhairle can only retain her position through a democratically endorsed ballot, whether you like it or not. All of us here will not agree on everything, and that’s politics, and that’s democracy.
“That is the nature of politics – but we are all elected to do our jobs, and we have been unable to do our jobs in this Chamber where it’s been just made impossible, as was pointed out here, because of the atmosphere and the intimidation and the toxic environment that has been created. We should all agree that vicious personal attacks, attempts to undermine, and even degrade, for the purposes of pathetic political optics are unworthy of this House and the tradition on which it was built.
‘ADVERTISEMENT FOR WOMEN TO STAY AWAY FROM IRISH POLITICAL LIFE’
“I believe the Ceann Comhairle is capable of discharging her duties in a fair and impartial manner, and I think what has happened here over the last few weeks is nothing short of an advertisement for women to stay away from Irish political life. And it was your own dear leader [Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald], the feminist herself, who stood up and engaged in shocking behaviour in this House. Shocking behaviour – and what an example to lead by – what would that be like in Government? What would the country be like? Disgraceful. It is shameful. I will make my vote here today with a settled and calm conscience that this is the right thing to do.”
‘BREATHTAKING DISPLAY OF BIAS’
Prior to that, Mary Lou McDonald said that the motion of no confidence in Deputy Murphy was a response to a concerted campaign by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to “run roughshod over the democratic rules of the Dail for their own political gain.”
“Last Tuesday, not alone did the Ceann Comhairle put herself at the centre of that Government plan; she led the charge. In an unprecedented and frankly breathtaking display of bias, the person charged with safeguarding and preserving democracy in this house helped to tear it apart,” the Sinn Fein leader said, accusing Deputy Murphy of “actively and enthusiastically” fulfilling the “aims and the bidding of the Government.”
“Acting as the Government’s Ceann Comhairle, signed, sealed and delivered by Michael Lowry. What we witnessed was an unrivalled partisan display. The Sean Comhairle forced the Government’s agenda, showing blatant disrespect and contempt for the mandate of the combined opposition.”
“This marked a fundamental departure from established practice,” McDonald said.
The Sinn Fein leader insisted that the Deputy Murphy’s position was “untenable” and that surviving Tuesday night’s vote would “not change that fact.”
She outlined three main criticisms. Firstly, the failure to hold a vote on the Order of Business when it was sought. Secondly, failing to hold the usual Questions on Promised Legislation slot after the vote, which McDonald said proved Murphy was “hellbent” on getting the government motion over the line. Thirdly, she claimed that the Ceann Comhairle in error put an amendment – rather than the government motion – to a vote, which she said was done to “a chorus of approval from the Government benches.”
Ms McDonald reiterated her belief that Ms Murphy’s actions had been “neither impartial or independent,” claiming that they have left the Ceann Comhairle’s position “in tatters” – adding that Ms Murphy does not have the support or confidence of the opposition, which she needs.
“Michael Lowry gives two fingers to the Irish people, we will not accept the Ceann Comhairle doing the same,” Ms McDonald concluded.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said in his comments that people wanted TDs to “stop shouting, roaring and hollering, turn up for work and do the job” – while accusing Sinn Féin of having a record of “putting party interest before national interest.”
Mr Harris said officials had faced “a bitter and aggressive cacophony and an atmosphere of hostility and anger. It was utterly embarrassing and I would call on those who engaged in such behaviour to apologise to the staff of this House.”
Deputy Mattie McGrath, meanwhile, said that as someone who nominated and voted for Seán Ó Fearghaíl as Ceann Comhairle, he respected and accepted the democratic result when Verona Murphy was elected.
Mr McGrath said he agreed that the treatment of Murphy as Ceann Comhairle was “nothing short of shocking.”
“I had a school group up last week. Thankfully they weren’t here when this charade happened. Is this what the Opposition wants? They’re described in the media and elsewhere as ferocious opposition. Some people are angry because they can’t get into Government. They had their chance; they didn’t. I want to say that I have utmost confidence in Deputy Murphy, who has, through her life – her school days, her working days, her education, and since she came in here, acted rightly on behalf of the people of Ireland.”
‘LINE IN THE SAND’
“It’s time we got down to the work we have to do,” Deputy McGrath said. “With all the other issues – housing, you name it – that we get down to real politics here and work for the people who sent us here, and not the charades we have had here in the last number of weeks. I hope it will be a line in the sand and we will have the democratic principles of this House respected.”
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins told tonight’s debate that while “circumstances have led us to this incredible situation,” it would be unfair for the Ceann Comhairle to take all the blame.
“The antics of some have a lot to be desired, and leaves a bad taste in this Dail that will not be forgotten for a long time. The bottom line here is that the Taoiseach and the Tainiste of this country made what I have called a stinking bad deal with Michael Lowry and his team of the Regional Independents – without a scrap of paper, without a policy, without even a policy.”
Deputy Collins said that it was not true that there were no other solutions, saying that Independent Ireland had come forward, “but the only problem the two parties had was that Independent Ireland had policies, had solutions to policies.”
“We were willing to sit down and marry our policies into the programme for Government and deliver for the people. But the Taoiseach’s only acknowledgement about our honest negotiations was that he could not meet with our demands – when the honest answer here is that he did not even speak to us, so the stinking deal with Michael Lowry was done. We knew then the train was gone from the station, and we were left at the station.”
Michael Collins said that the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste did not do a deal with the party as “we would have stood by our principles and not caved in like the Regional Independents.”
The Deputy continued: “We want a government driven by policy, and proper programme for government, and not new Ministerial positions with perks and mercs costing the country alone over 5 million.”
“Independent Ireland were willing at all times to talk,” Deputy Collins said. “He wanted a blank sheet from Michael Lowry, full of nods and winks,” he told the debate.
Independent TD Sean Canney said that if what happened in the Dáil last week happened in a pub, “you’d say people had drink taken.”
Galway TD Catherine Connolly, who served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the 33rd Dáil from July 2020 to November 2024, meanwhile accused the Government of pushing the policy of “might is right, at every level.” The Independent said that the Government had “seriously undermined years of Dáil reform,” accusing it of being “disingenuous and dangerous.”
“You rammed through changes […] All of the time you’ve added to the growing distrust of people on the ground in relation to the political process. They simply don’t trust you because you’ve turned language on its head. And when you ram through changes that will ostensibly give more speaking time to the backbenchers, which is far from true, then you’re also telling lies and being disingenuous.”
Deputy Connolly criticised the Government, particularly Mr Martin and Mr Harris, for “effectively reducing the openness and accountability” for the Taoiseach by reducing question time, and reducing time for order of business, as well as taking time from Private Members, while, “all the time you have said the opposite.”