Suspension for Stagg after latest Labour row

Labour's chief whip Mr Emmet Stagg was suspended from the Dáil yesterday when he refused to withdraw allegations against the Ceann Comhairle of "outrageous rudeness" to opposition speakers.

Dr Rory O'Hanlon said, however, that he would not be "intimidated by deputies on either side of the House", and that he would "implement the standing orders without fear or favour".

Mr Stagg described the reference to intimidation as "cant", and claimed Dr O'Hanlon was "downright rude" to Opposition members of the House "when they try to raise legitimate issues".

The row is the latest in increasingly bitter confrontations between the Labour party in particular and Dr O'Hanlon on Dáil procedures.

Mr Stagg made the accusations yesterday during the Order of Business when the Ceann Comhairle ruled a number of Deputy Stagg's party colleagues out of order, saying their questions did not relate to promised legislation.

Mr Stagg said: "The rudeness from the chair towards Opposition speakers is outrageous, and is making the job of the Opposition virtually impossible. I want the chair's guidance on how we might deal with the matter."

Dr O'Hanlon responded: "It is quite simple. If the deputy obeys the standing orders we will progress the business much quicker than at present. The standing orders are quite specific. The chair will implement the standing orders without fear or favour."

When Mr Stagg accused him of implementing the standing orders "in one direction only", Dr O'Hanlon said that he would not be "intimidated by deputies on either side of the House".

The labour deputy retorted: "That cant about being intimidated does not wash. The chair is downright rude to members on this side of the House when they try to raise legitimate issues."

When the Ceann Comhairle asked the North Kildare TD to withdraw the remark, he refused and declined to leave the Chamber, at which point Dr O'Hanlon suspended the session for five minutes.

Mr Stagg said there would be "more to say", and the chair's attitude was "intolerable". When the Dáil resumed the Labour deputy had left the Chamber, and the party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, asked Dr O'Hanlon to view the tape of the morning's proceedings "in the calm of your office".

The Ceann Comhairle said that if Mr Rabbitte had a problem he was welcome to Dr O'Hanlon's office. Mr Rabbitte replied: "My party is not prepared to acquiesce in the manner of interruptions caused to each of my deputies as they rose this morning."

This latest row follows a bitter exchange before the local elections when Mr Rabbitte accused the Ceann Comhairle of being "congenitally incapable" of fairness to the Opposition, and of protecting Cabinet members.

At the time Dr O'Hanlon, in response, said Mr Rabbitte's attack was unprecedented and unprovoked, and any repetition would not be tolerated