Labour walkout in support of Shortall

LABOUR PARTY TDs walked out of the Dáil yesterday in support of their colleague Róisín Shortall who was suspended in a row over questions to Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan about Anglo Irish Bank.

Ms Shortall (Dublin North-West) claimed the emergency debate about the bank was a “sham” and accused Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue of “protecting” the Minister, for not answering questions from Labour finance spokeswoman Joan Burton.

The Ceann Comhairle had said he was moving on to other matters.

Ms Burton said the Minister had not answered her questions about the transfer of €7 billion to Anglo Irish Bank. Before he left Mr Lenihan replied “there were too many of them”.

The Ceann Comhairle said again that he was moving on to other matters, Mr Lenihan left and Ms Shortall said the questions had been asked.

She told the Ceann Comhairle that “you are not doing your duty if you do not insist that the Minister replies to questions which have been properly asked”.

When she said it was a sham and that Mr O’Donoghue was protecting the Minister and the Government, he insisted that she withdraw the allegation.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore then intervened and said while Deputy Shortall was drawing the chair’s attention to the unanswered questions, “the Minister for Finance walked out the door” and that was a “discourtesy” which the Ceann Comhairle might not have seen.

Mr O’Donoghue said he had drawn the debate to a conclusion and when Ms Shortall refused to leave he adjourned the House for 15 minutes. When it resumed Ms Shortall said she was leaving in protest at the failure of the Minister “to answer legitimate questions”. Mr Gilmore then said all his deputies, there were nine in the chamber, would leave in protest at the “disrespect” shown to Deputy Burton and to the House over the failure to answer questions.