CEANN Comhairle Verona Murphy has survived a motion of no confidence as the Government looks to put an end to the speaking time row that has dominated the Dail for months.
The Wexford TD became the first Ceann Comhairle in the history of the Oireachtas to face a no confidence motion as opposition parties teamed up to take her down in protest of her handling of last week’s Dail bust up.
The row centres over an attempt by Michael Lowry and three other Government backing TDs to seek similar Dail speaking rights to the opposition during Leaders Questions.
Verona Murphy pushed through a vote on this new speaking slot in the Dail last week despite attempts from Sinn Fein and other opposition TDs to shout down the House.
Opposition parties tabled a motion of confidence in her as they claimed she colluded with the Government to force through this vote.
She beat the no confidence motion tonight by 96 votes to 71 – with two abstentions – as Government parties rallied around the under-fire Ceann Comhairle.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin blasted the opposition’s shouting protests as he claimed they were trying to erode the Government’s majority by intimidating people.
He said: “Having given us scenes last week which had never before been recorded in 106 years of this democratic parliament, the opposition decided it would seek the Ceann Comháirle’s head.
“Having broken literally every single rule of this House. Having shouted down business. Having started to chant and abuse others.
“Having refused to even allow the democratically elected chairperson of this House to be heard, they are now claiming that it is she who should be censured.”
The Taoiseach claimed “the arsonists are demanding we censure the fire brigade.”
Leas Ceann Comhairle John McGuinness stepped in to chair the debate today which saw the Government and opposition clash on a series of exchanges.
Mary Lou McDonald said that the Ceann Comhairle’s position will remain untenable regardless of the result of today’s motion of no confidence.
The Sinn Fein leader read out a section of an interview that Deputy Lowry did with a Tipperary radio station in which he outlined how he secured Deputy Murphy’s election as Ceann Comhairle as part of negotiations to form a Government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.
Mary Lou said: “Michael Lowry gives two fingers to the Irish people and we will not accept the Ceann Comhairle doing the same.
“The Ceann Comhairle is not fair, is not impartial, is not independent and can not stay. The Ceann Comhairle must go.”
The new “Other Members” speaking slot will be seen for the first time tomorrow as the Government’s new Dail rules come into effect.
The end of the speaking time row will result in the Government pushing ahead with the establishment of the Oireachtas Committees that could be up and running as soon as next week.
