Updated 8.55am
PEOPLE BEFORE Profit TD Richard Boyd-Barrett came under criticism yesterday for using unparliamentary language in the Dáíl chamber, while a number of children were present in the public gallery.
The Dún Laoghaire TD was speaking during Statements on the Government’s Priorities for the Year Ahead, and criticised speeches made by coalition leaders earlier which praised the work of government so far.
“Let me summarise Taoiseach and Tanaiste’s speech,” Boyd-Barrett said.
Blah blah blah blah, mumble mumble, blah blah blah, mumble mumble – success. What a load of bulls**t.
(Video: TheJournal.ie/YouTube via Oireachtas.ie/HEAnet)
“Why does the Government not be honest?” he continued later. “Why does the Taoiseach not meet the families and give them the committee of investigation for which they have so long asked and which he promised them before he took office? It is blah, blah, blah, blah.”
The Cathaoirleach reprimanded Boyd-Barrett at the end of his speech, noting that children “who possibly still use crayons” were in the public gallery, and requested that the TD watch his language.
“I will probably have to check this,” Labour TD John Lyons acting as Cathaoirleach said, ”but I am sure the Deputy used at least two phrases which, if we were to check, might be deemed to be inappropriate in the parliamentary practice of the Dáil.”
Deputy Boyd-Barrett also said that the “unemployed are being dragooned, under threat of having their social welfare taken from them, into low paid jobs in local authorities”.
This is like a wet dream for Fine Gael.
(Video: Hugh O’Connell/YouTube via Oireachtas.ie/HEAnet)
“I always welcome a bit of passion in this house, whatever about unparliamentary language, I think that’s worth avoiding “, Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton said in response.
“But I’ve listened to this debate, but the contributions from the opposition are fanciful.”
First published 11.04pm on 4 March 2013
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