Sanctions being finalised to crack down on disruptive TDs

Tough new sanctions on TDs who behave in a disorderly and disruptive way in the Dáil chamber are close to being finalised.

The Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges (CPP) will shortly make a decision on new standing orders which have been designed in response to a spate of disorderly episodes over the past few years.

The most publicised instances in recent times involved Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, who staged a sit-in in the chamber last November and was found later by the CPP to have “abused parliamentary privilege”.

Sources close to Leinster House authorities say “disorder in the chamber, obstruction of Dáil business and the misuse of parliamentary privilege are now widely regarded to having a serious reputational impact on the Dáil”.

Legal expert

Arising from recent incidents the CPP engaged a legal expert to prepare proposals for new sanctions that would equip the Dáil with the authority to deal with the undermining of the business of the chamber.

It is understood these draft proposals include the idea of cumulative sanctions that increase the penalty on members who repeatedly obstruct Dáil business or abuse parliamentary privilege.

Currently TDs who are suspended from the Dáil retain access to committees but under the new CPP proposals they will be suspended from all parliamentary activity.

More importantly, in cases of repeat offences the number of suspension days will be cumulative and TDs could find themselves excluded from all Dáil business for long periods.

The practical implications of their non-attendance at Leinster House will mean they are not able to claim expenses during suspension but, more seriously, repeat offenders will be excluded from Dáil votes and committee attendance.

An Oireachtas source said the repeated sight of members abusing privilege or obstructing the work of parliament without any meaningful political consequences or sanction was “eroding and undermining public trust and faith in the institution to take its own business seriously”.

He emphasised, however, the move was designed to impose sanctions on disruptive behaviour and not to limit the freedom of TDs to express their views on matters of public importance.

It is unrelated to the complaint by businessman Denis O’Brien about comments made under privilege in the House by Independent TD Catherine Murphy and his demand that the Dáil record be amended

New record

In response to a query about the complaint yesterday, an Oireachtas spokesperson said: “The notion that the Dáil record can be corrected or altered is a misnomer. The Dáil record cannot be changed. Members who wish to clarify what they have previously said on the record may make a statement in the House and this then becomes a new record.”