Mary Lou McDonald expected to avoid trying to enter Dáil

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald is not expected to try to force her way into the Dáil chamber today following her suspension for a four-hour sit-in last week.

Ms McDonald is “turning up for work as normal” today despite being suspended until Wednesday, a party spokesman said. However, it is understood she will make a symbolic gesture of walking up to the doors of the chamber but not attempting to enter.

“Mary Lou is turning up for work as normal tomorrow,” the spokesman said. “She believes ushers have been instructed to inform her she can’t enter the chamber.”

Instead, Ms McDonald is expected to walk up to the door of the chamber and turn away when asked to do so by the ushers who “are only doing their jobs”, according to Sinn Féin sources.

Ms McDonald had refused to take her seat after an exchange on water charges with Tánaiste Joan Burton during Leaders' Questions last Thursday.

Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett has stressed the House had voted to suspend Ms McDonald. The Leinster House ushers' job is to keep order in the Oireachtas.

A statement from the Oireachtas yesterday said Ms McDonald had been suspended following a vote in the Dáil.

“The Ceann Comhairle is charged with implementing the rules of the House as drawn up by the House,” the statement said. “He does not make the rules. The role and job of a ceann comhairle is to interpret and apply the rules of the House in accordance with standing orders, the rules made by the members themselves.

“Since taking office, the Ceann Comhairle has advocated on several occasions that it is a fundamental right of all democratically elected members to speak in the House and he is extremely mindful of his obligation to uphold the rights and privileges of all members in accordance with the Constitution and the standing orders of Dáil Éireann. That’s what he was trying to do in the chamber last Thursday when forced to suspend.”

‘Unfair and petulant’

At the weekend, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams called the Ceann Comhairle "unfair and petulant" and repeated he had no confidence in him.

However, the Oireachtas said any complaints or unhappiness with the rules should be taken to the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges: “They should know that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is the forum where the rules can be discussed for change and all whips, including the Sinn Féin whip, are members of that committee.”

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar yesterday dismissed last week's stand-off and sit-in as "antics" which prevented legislation being debated.

“What happened last week was very important legislation was held up. Joan Burton had legislation to increase child benefit and restore the Christmas bonus,” Mr Varadkar said.

“I had legislation to reduce the stamp duty on health insurance and that at least has been kicked back now until next week. So I really don’t know what’s achieved by any of this kind of play-acting.”

Mr Varadkar said Ms McDonald’s move was “obviously” an attempt to remove the Maíria Cahill controversy from the news agenda.

“I suppose they succeeded in doing that but meanwhile the important business of Government has to go on. And I think when you see Mary Lou’s antics in the Dáil last week and when you see the behaviour of the Socialists and others in Jobstown at the weekend, you kind of see what sort of alternative is on offer at the moment and it’s not a very good one.”