Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has told Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy that her position is “untenable” and that she “needs to go.”
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil on Wednesday, the Dublin Central TD launched a scathing criticism of Murphy’s handling of parliamentary procedures, accusing her of bias and of breaching Dáil rules.
“Taoiseach, you took a sledgehammer to the rules and procedures of the Dáil,” McDonald said.
“And you were assisted in this task by the Ceann Comhairle yesterday—the person responsible for safeguarding the Dáil’s democratic processes led the charge on behalf of the Government’s agenda.”
She alleged that Murphy had “bulldozed all rules” to advance a Government motion and accused her of protecting a deal that was “brokered by her mentor Michael Lowry, who sat smiling and giving the two fingers to the people of Ireland while the chaos unfolded.”
“Ceann Comhairle, you took a wrecking ball to all procedure to facilitate this charade,” she said.
“You even got a thumbs-up from the Government Chief Whip for all your efforts. You failed to hold a vote to agree all business. When a vote was called, you dumped promised legislation, and in your rush to ram through the Government motion, you only called a vote on an amendment, not on the substantive motion—but still declared that the Government motion had been passed.”
She described the episode as “farcical,” saying it was “a clear breach of Dáil rules.”
“It was unprecedented, and it was unacceptable.”
Addressing Murphy directly, McDonald accused her of lacking impartiality.
“Your actions yesterday, Ceann Comhairle, were demonstrably partisan and lacked the impartiality and independence demanded of your position,” she said.
“So who convinced you to play your part in this disgraceful charade? Or is it simply that bias for the Government is baked into the very deal that secured your position? That is now the question.”
She further claimed that the Ceann Comhairle had lost the Opposition’s trust.
“Ceann Comhairle, not alone have you lost the confidence of the entire opposition—you have in fact decimated it,” McDonald said.
“And the Dáil cannot function properly while you remain in the chair. Above all, the Ceann Comhairle must be impartial, fair, and independent. And by your actions, you have demonstrated that you are not.”
“Your position is therefore untenable,” she added.
“So I ask you to reflect very carefully on this—because you need to go.”
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik also questioned Murphy’s conduct, stating that she did not believe Dáil rules had been applied “fairly and impartially.”
“That is why this morning, together with my parliamentary party we agreed to ask to reflect on your position over coming days,” Bacik said.
“If not, if necessary, we will have no option to table a motion of no confidence in you. And I regret that it has come to this.”
As reported earlier today, Opposition parties held a meeting this morning to consider tabling a formal motion of no confidence in Murphy, following heated scenes in the Dáil on Tuesday.
The controversy stems from a Government motion to grant new speaking time slots to a group of Government-aligned Independent TDs, including Michael Lowry. The Ceann Comhairle ruled that the motion had passed following a vote on an amendment, which sparked a backlash from Opposition TDs who argued that no vote had taken place on the substantive motion itself.
Opposition leaders allege that Murphy acted improperly by allowing the vote to proceed in this manner and by adjourning the House too quickly afterwards.
The Government’s plan, which was approved by a Dáil vote on Tuesday, created a new category of TDs known as “Other Members,” granting them dedicated speaking slots during Leaders’ Questions without reducing existing opposition time. The move was criticised by Opposition parties as a form of “stroke politics” that blurred the lines between Government and Opposition.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin rejected those criticisms, accusing Opposition TDs of bullying the Ceann Comhairle. “The prolonged barracking and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity,” he said.
Speaking from Lebanon, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said that the behaviour in the Dáil was “really regrettable, really unbecoming, really unseemly.”
Asked about the moment during Tuesday’s debate when Michael Lowry raised two fingers towards Opposition TDs, Harris said: “I think that was also unseemly and unbecoming, but I think that behaviour wasn’t isolated to any one deputy.”
He criticised the refusal of some TDs to observe parliamentary order.
“When the Ceann Comhairle stands up, you sit down,” Harris said.
“And to see adults standing up, shouting and roaring, hooping and hollering, isn’t anything you’d want see in any workplace, least of all the Dáil.”
The Dáil speaking rights dispute has become one of the most contentious parliamentary issues in recent months. The Government maintains that it ensures fair representation for all TDs, while critics argue that it weakens accountability by granting Government supporters a role traditionally reserved for the Opposition.