Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl has said he will review Dáil footage after Taoiseach Micheál Martin complained he was repeatedly interrupted and heckled by the Opposition and they were not “being pulled up” on it.
Mr Martin made the remarks during questions on promised legislation in the Dáil on Tuesday. Mr Martin was answering a question on housing from Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan with comments being made across the chamber from Sinn Fein TDs Louise O’Reilly and Mary Lou McDonald.
Mr Ó Fearghaíl said “can we stop bickering and get on with questions?” And in response, Mr Martin said he wished to make a point of order.
“I’ve noticed now in the last half hour that every time I get up to speak there’s interruptions and there’s heckles and they are not being pulled up, I have to say,” Mr Martin said.
Earlier during Leaders’ Questions, the Taoiseach was repeatedly interrupted and heckled by Independent TD Richard O’Donoghue, who had questioned Mr Martin on VAT on goods and services.
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Mr Martin told the Limerick TD to “at least have the basic decorum that this parliament demands that you allow people to answer your question”.
Speaking later on Tuesday, Mr Ó Fearghaíl said he wished to make a point in light of the Taoiseach’s comments.
“It’s become very much a part of daily life here that the chair is routinely ignored by people who should know better, irrespective of who operates or sits in the chair,” he said.
“I took the comments made the Taoiseach and the chief whip earlier to suggest that I was not doing enough to protect them from the Opposition. I will review the video of the contributions, together with the clerk of the Dáil, and I will correspond with you afterwards.”
