We’ve already had a busy morning on the politics front. 

My colleague Muiris O’Cearbhaill was monitoring this morning’s opposition meeting, where it was agreed that the party leaders would bring the message to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy that they no longer have confidence in her. 

As you’ll no doubt be aware, weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders’ Questions yesterday as the Dáil chamber witnessed scenes of shouting, rude gestures and allegations of misogyny. 

TDs eventually voted 94 to 74 to pass the controversial rule change backed by the government, which alters how speaking rights are divided up.

Members of the opposition were standing on their feet to protest the vote. As a result, Murphy suspended the House, which was ultimately adjourned, with no vote taking place on yesterday’s Order of Business—a move that infuriated the opposition.

Today’s Leaders’ Questions is set to kick off at midday.  

In case you missed them, here’s how those chaotic scenes looked yesterday… 

You may be wondering whether a Ceann Comhairle has lost the confidence of the opposition before.

Well yes, they have.

In the dark days of the recession in 2009, it was revealed that Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry and Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue had run up over €200,000 in lavish expenses in just two years.

O’Donoghue stepped down after Eamon Gilmore, then leader of the Labour Party, told him in the Dáil that his position was “no longer tenable”.

The Irish Examiner described the exchange at the time as “electrifying” – though today’s audience will probably mostly be struck by how very quiet the Dáil was. 

You could hear a pin drop as Gilmore told O’Donoghue in sombre tones that it was time to go.

It’s a far cry from the shouting and roaring the house witnessed yesterday.

O’Donoghue stepped aside before the matter went to a vote of confidence.

(Please forgive the somewhat grainy quality of this video from fadó fadó – it even pre-dates the existence of The Journal).

Spare a thought for the people who have to run the political parties’ social media accounts in such trying times.

How to make a somewhat obscure row about parliamentary procedure #relatable? 

With Skittles of course! 

Step forward newly minted Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North Naoise Ó Cearúil.

The Dáil Speaking Row - What’s it all about? @naoiseoc takes us through it pic.twitter.com/21CTs05pKp

— Fianna Fáil (@fiannafailparty) March 26, 2025

Borrowing heavily from Virgin Media News’ political correspondent Gavan Reilly’s viral explainer on proportional representation last year (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), Ó Cearúil and Fianna Fáil are using jars of sweeties to make the case that the government “is not taking anything from the opposition”.

“This is a minor change that still allows the opposition the vast majority of speaking time so that they can keep the government accountable,” Ó Cearúil says.

Government vs opposition priority questions, through the medium of Skittles. Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil

But is the jar half full or half empty?

Readers can decide for thesmelves how generous a helping of green skittles – representing government time for priority questions – Ó Cearúil has given himself there.

The Dáil will resume in the coming minutes – with several opposition leaders set to express no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.

However, the opposition are not as one on the issue.

Speaking earlier on RTÉ Radio 1′s Today with Claire Byrne, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín struck a more cautious note, despite sharing anger over yesterday’s vote. 

Tóibín said that expressing no confidence in Murphy would not “fix the situation”.

Tóibín said the government must be held accountable for the vote.

My colleague Muiris Ó Cearbhaill reports ahead of Leaders’ Questions:

Leaders of opposition parties are due to outline their view of no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy in the Dáil today, which will lead to the arrangement of a vote on a motion of confidence in the near future.

Not all oppositional TDs have supported this measure, but it is understood that the majority of the group has supported the stance. Party leaders will likely give reference to their lack of confidence during Leaders’ Questions this afternoon, calling for a vote.

Government chief whip Mary Butler told RTÉ News that government will be voting to support for Murphy and will express its confidence in her in the Dáil. However, the lack of confidence from the opposition is likely to loom over the remaining term.

And we’re off.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou is on her feet and pulling no punches, lambasting the government’s “grubby deal with Michael Lowry”.

She has also said the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy’s position is untenable.

“You need to go,” McDonald has told Murphy.

She has accused Murphy of bias in favour of the government and of “taking a wrecking ball” to government procedure.

She said Murphy’s actions yesterday were “farcical, a clear breach of Dail rules, unprecedented and unacceptable”.

She accused Murphy of being “demonstrably partisan” and of lacking “the impartiality demanded of your position”.

She accused Lowry of “smiling and giving two fingers to the people of Ireland while the chaos unfolded” yesterday in the Dáil.

It’s a fiery opening to what is set to be a bitter afternoon of exchanges in the Dáil.

The Taoiseach says the rules of the house have changed many times in history. 

Micheál Martin gives examples from other countries where he says all backbenchers get to ask questions in the parliament. 

He accuses Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald of attempting to undermine the instution of the Dáil, undermining the govermment and reducing the government majority.

The Taoiseach said “anybody who uses two fingers” to another person is “wrong” and “should apologise”.

It is of course a reference to Lowry’s gesture yesterday (which the Tipperary TD told The Journal was intended to encourage People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy to “sit down”) – a gesture captured on the front of every newspaper today.

However, the Taoiseach also said that “waving cameras in the face of other deputies is wrong” – a point also made by Lowry.

He also criticsised “intimidatory barracking” of newly elected TDs.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she regrets that she has to say that the Ceann Comhairle must reflect on her position.

But she adds that the chaotic scenes witnessed yesterday in the Dáil was a “farce” of the government’s making. 

Here’s the clip of McDonald’s opening salvo in Leaders’ Questions, telling Murphy she needs to go. 

Both the government and opposition benches are packed this afternoon. 

(As an aside, nice to see so many daffodils on display – it’s the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day this Friday). 

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said it is “essential” that the Ceann Comhairle enjoys the support from the government and opposition. 

“Clearly this is no longer the case,” he said, telling Murphy she needs to reflect on that fact.

He asks the Taoiseach why the government is moving the change the procedures of the parliament for independent TD Michael Lowry, describing it as “laughable” that the public are expected to believe the regional independent group would hold government to account.

He said the government is “drunk on power”, which needs to be held to account for its “failings” in areas such as housing, disabilities, trade and the reneging on pre-election promises, such as the Occupied Territories Bill.

He said the government is showing a “disrespect” to the public, and demanded that the deal between the government and Michael Lowry’s regional independent group be published.

The Taoiseach responds to the Social Democrats by telling O’Callaghan: “You made no sincere effort to form a government”.

He says that O’Callaghan’s questions about what deal the government struck with Michael Lowry is something he “trots out…all the time”, and it’s “deliberate smearing” and “innuendo” that is trying to suggest “dark stuff”.

The Taoiseach says the deal between the government and the Regional Independent Group is formed on a shared interest in “stability”.

The Ceann Comhairle, still doing her job despite the expressions of no confidence in her, has to tell the Taoiseach time is up.

Here’s the clip of Martin saying that anyone who uses two fingers to another person in the Dáil is wrong and “should apologise”.

O’Callaghan repeatedly asks if the Taoiseach expects the opposition to accept that there is no arrangement between the government and Michael Lowry’s regional independent group.

“Is that what you’re saying? There was no deal? No deal at all? Is that what you’re saying? That you made you make no deal with Michael Lowry about these speaking rights with no agreements?”

He says it is a not a credible claim. 

Martin says the discussions with the regional independents group were wholly focused and based on policy, insinuating that there was no agreement between the two groups.

“The regional independent group, I’d say, would prefer a far different arrangement than what’s been proposed by the chief whip. In respect of what, by any yardstick, if you look at, is a very, very modest rebalancing,” the Taoiseach says.

Ruth Coppinger of People Before Profit says accusations of misogyny against the opposition in relation to their dissatisfaction with the Ceann Comhairle are ironic, given how male-dominated the government is.

She says that she agrees that her position is no longer tenable. She calls into question why the government is seeking to change the rules for the regional independent group.

She calls the vote and processes yesterday “undemocratic”, and demands that the government reveal its deal with the group. She says that “hundreds” of questions will no go unasked, that no government backbencher would ask.

The Taoiseach tells Coppinger that there is a “problem” in the Dáil with respecting the mandate of fellow TDs. He said the purpose of the government’s proposal is to try facilitate and respect the mandate of members.

We’ve now concluded Leaders’ Questions and TDs have the opportunity to ask questions on policy and legislation.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald continues to question the Taoiseach about the deal between the government and the Regional Independent Group.

She says that the government does not get to choose who is in opposition and who is not, and that members of the Regional Independent Group must be recognised as members of government.

She says the Taoiseach wants to “occupy” Taoiseach’s Questions with “faux opposition” through the proposed changes to Dáil procedure, as part of the resolution to the speaking rights impasse.

Martin, responding, says Sinn Féin and McDonald showed a lack of respect for the Ceann Comhairle yesterday and has created a “new precedent”. He said it was not acceptable that her party is not willing to collaborate.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy asks the Taoiseach to say that the claim that eight minutes is being cut from the Dáil’s business is not true.

He claims that, in reality, 69.5 minutes is being cut – with the majority of that time being awarded to parties and politicians involved with the negotiations for the programme for government.

Micheál Martin claims that Murphy does not agree with “parliamentary institutions”, and it does not surprise him that parties are threatening to disrupt the Dáil further next week.

He says that the government is trying to rebalance the time that is awarded to TDs.

Independent TD Paul Gogarty says that the Dáil should sit earlier on Tuesday to make up for the loss of time as a result of the row. He says that the proposal was not fair and that that should be reflected by the government.

In response, Martin says that he would actually favour Friday sittings for debates (the Dáil sits between Tuesdays and Thursdays only). He refutes claims that opposition time is being cut and claims that some parties are getting more time under the new ruling.

Interestingly, this portion of the Dáil’s day does give time for government backbenchers to put questions to the Taoiseach. Four TDs, two from Fianna Fáil and two from Fine Gael, have asked respective questions about bus drivers and roads. 

Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere took time to show support for Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy – claiming she had been “bullied” in the Dáil yesterday. The Taoiseach said he agreed with the Carlow-Kilkenny TD.

Debate about confidence in the Ceann Comhairle and the speaking rights has largely died down in the Dáil. Many questions about specific policies and issues are being directed to the Taoiseach.

Tipperary North independent TD Michael Lowry has described the two fingers he raised in the Dáil yesterday as “an errant gesture” and said it was not meant to cause offence.

In a statement released this afternoon, Lowry said his gesture “was not made with malicious intent”, describing it as “an errant gesture under provocation”.

“Unfortunately, the gesture has been taken out of context. Unlike others, I have always respected the rules and values of the Dail,” the government-supporting TD said.

“My gesture was not intended to be offensive or to cause any offence, and I regret that it may have been seen in such a way.”

During a heated exchange with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald today, Taoiseach said Micheál Martin said that “anybody who uses two fingers in this house to another person is wrong, and that person should apologise, and that would apply to Deputy Lowry”.

He also said that people “waving cameras in the face of other deputies is wrong”.

 My colleague David McRedmond has the full story here.

Galway West Independent TD Catherine Connolly has rejected the government’s fix to the speaking rights issue, claiming that the Taoiseach has slashed time “on every level” for the opposition.

She claims that the Taoiseach has put the Ceann Comhairle in the position she is now in.

Micheál Martin says that Connolly is misrepresenting the issue. He says he “genuinely believes” that some members of the opposition did not want the issue to be resolved and wanted to being a “wrecking ball” to the parliament.

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty says he wishes to raise a point of order, asking if the order of business was genuinely passed yesterday. He says he has reviewed the audio and that there was a clear call for a vote on the Dáil’s schedule. 

He says it raises serious concerns that a vote was not called.

The Ceann Comhairle says she will send Doherty the official record of the day yesterday in the Dáil. Doherty claims that the audio contradicts the official record. 

Verona Murphy repeats that she will send him the official record and agrees to also listen to the audio and watch the video captured by the Oireachtas cameras.

Debate and questions have now concluded. TDs are discussing the conclusions and activities of the Taoiseach at the European Council over the last number of weeks.

We reported earlier that Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that anyone “waving cameras in the face of other deputies is wrong” during Leaders’ Questions. 

He was, of course, referring to People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy filming Independent TD Michael Lowry – who made a two-finger gesture that is all over the front pages this morning, which he told The Journal was intended to encourage Murphy to “sit down”.

Using a camera inside the Dáil chamber is against the Standing Orders, or rules of the House. 

Asked by The Journal this afternoon if he intends to apologise for this, Murphy said: 

“I make no apology for letting people know what is going on in the Dáil. I think the public has a right to know what Michael Lowry thinks of them and our parliamentary process.”

RTÉ Radio 1′s Liveline programme today opens with Katie Hannon asking Theresa, a carer from Wicklow, what she thinks of the goings on in the Dáil today. 

“Disgraceful,” Theresa says. “The carry on of them is disgusting. They were like children in a playground.” She is calling for better pay for all carers. 

Antoinette calls into the show raising the issue of the free HRT scheme – which the previous Government announced would be rolled out in January, but is delayed. 

“The Government was voted in last year, and they put it to the women of Ireland that they were going to give them free HRT from 1 January, and there’s no sign of it,” she says.

“We’ve heard nothing about the free HRT. Again, the women of Ireland are being failed by the country, and then that carry on in the Dáil yesterday? Unbelievable.”

Sarah, who is a foster carer, tells RTÉ’s Liveline of her frustration after watching the Dáil.

“They were like a pack of monkeys in a circus, and to be honest with you, it didn’t shock me, but it really disappointed me,” she says. 

“There’s so many issues to fix in our country… if they could only use some of their energy on that like they did last night, wouldn’t it be wonderful?”. 

Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn was speaking on RTÉ’s News at One earlier this afternoon. 

He reiterated his party and the rest of the opposition’s position that Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has lost their confidence.

The Sinn Féin chief whip said that Murphy has until the end of the week to consider her position. 

“The deadline in terms of a motion no confidence would be towards the end of this week,” Mac Lochlainn said.

“We’re Wednesday today. Obviously she’d have tonight and tomorrow to consider her position, but we will move a motion of no confidence if she hasn’t stepped aside.” 

He said that the entire opposition made it clear today that Murphy’s position is untenable.

The way that she facilitated the Government’s will yesterday in ramming through this motion leaves her untenable.

“She’s lost the confidence of the entire opposition, 75 TDs. So she needs to reflect on that, and we’re making it clear that if she doesn’t step aside, we’ll have to, regrettably, move a motion of no confidence.”

If the opposition parties do move a motion of no confidence in Verona Murphy, the Government has the numbers to vote confidence in her.

Asked what his party will do then, Sinn Féin chief whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn told RTÉ’s News at One:

“This is the situation that Micheál Martin and his deal with Michael Lowry has left us in, where in 100 years of democracy in our Dáil, you would try to suggest that government TDs can pose as opposition, can ask leaders questions, can ask priority questions to ministers.

“It’s an absolute stroke, a sham, and the Ceann Comhairle should not have been cooperating with that.”

Mac Lochlainn added that “everybody in Ireland” is asking the question: “What hold does Michael Lowry have over Micheál Martin and his government?

“Why would they put us in absolute turmoil over Michael Lowry?”.

Our political editor Christina Finn has been speaking to politicians this afternoon, and the overriding view is that Verona Murphy will ride this out – even if a motion of no confidence is put down.

There has been mention of John O’Donoghue, who resigned as Ceann Comhairle in 2009 after then-Labour leader Eamon Gilmore told him in the Dáil that his position was no longer tenable. 

But while O’Donoghue did not have the backing of the government of the day back then, Murphy has the support of the coalition. his time around,  

However, Christina says the feeling is that this will really colour how this Dáil will play out in the future.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has reiterated her party’s position that Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy’s position is untenable in a short video shared on X. 

“We are really deeply dismayed at the way in which proceedings have been handled in the Dáil, and at the attempt to designate government members as members in opposition in all but name,” she said. 

“You can’t be in government and in opposition at the same time.”

Regrettably, in our view the position of the Ceann Comhairle is no longer tenable due to the Government's insistence on placating the Lowry group.

The chairing of Dáil proceedings yesterday was not carried out in a fair and impartial manner. pic.twitter.com/8AzIW6ZaQO

— Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) March 26, 2025

Our political editor Christina Finn has the latest from Leinster House: 

There has been chatter around Leinster House that a press conference with Sinn Féin might be happening, but it looks unlikely now.

It is understood that the wording of a motion of no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has been drafted and may be communicated to her office today. We are still not sure if the motion will be published today.

If there is a motion, a government source said ‘vote or not vote’, the government has confidence in the Ceann Comhairle.

So that tells us that if there is a motion of no confidence, Murphy will have the backing of the government and would be able to ride it out. If it is put down, it will be in Sinn Féin Private Members’ time on Tuesday.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy has denied that he was “waving” his phone in politician’s faces yesterday when he filmed Independent TD Michael Lowry making a two-fingered gesture. 

It comes after Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil this afternoon that while anyone “who uses two fingers” to another person is “wrong” and “should apologise”, anybody “waving cameras in the face of other deputies” is also wrong.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime this afternoon, Murphy said: “I didn’t wave my phone in the face of anybody. I panned across to Michael Lowry, and he gave me the fingers.”

He says two other TDs, independents Gillian Toole and Carol Nolan, were also filming the events in the chamber yesterday, adding that he “wasn’t breaking the rules of the Dáil” because it was suspended at the time.

Murphy says he was filming because he thinks “people have the right to see what is going on”. 

“I’m not bothered about Michael Lowry giving me the two fingers. To me, this is two fingers from Lowry, but also on behalf of the Government, to the public and to the basic principles of parliamentary democracy.”

Lowry today described the two fingers he raised in the Dáil as “an errant gesture” and said it was not meant to cause offence. He told The Journal yesterday that he was telling Murphy to “sit down with my fingers”. 

Paul Murphy goes on to say that the Government is asking the opposition to respect “a might is right approach, that once you have a majority, you can do whatever you want”.

“I don’t accept that that is how parliamentary democracy works. I don’t accept that a Ceann Comhairle can credibly continue if she has the support of nobody in the opposition, as seems to be the case,” he says. 

Asked what the resolution is, Murphy suggests a return to the resolution proposed in January, when he said there was an agreement with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste “that the Government would fully engage with the Committee on Dáil Reform and work to secure agreement as soon as possible” that is acceptable to both government and the opposition.

“We are still open to that. We have put forward compromise proposals, we’re open to other compromise proposals. Let’s reach a compromise that is acceptable to government and opposition.”

Opposition parties are set to submit their motion of no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy at 5.30pm today. 

Here is the text of the motion:

Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh says opposition parties are asking Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy to stand down because she “was not impartial, independent or fair” during the Dáil row over speaking time yesterday. 

“She no longer retains the confidence of all members of the Dáil,” Conway-Walsh tells RTÉ’s Drivetime, shortly after the text of a motion of no confidence in Murphy was published by opposition parties.

“This is absolutely unprecedented that the entire opposition sponsored this motion. We do not do this lightly,” she says. 

Conway-Walsh says Murphy “facilitated the farce that happened yesterday”.

“She facilitated the ramming through of the Government motion. Every Tuesday, we have a vote on Order of Business. She did not call a vote on an Order of Business. Then she went straight on to the amendment and not on the substantial motion.

“The whole thing, to me, was just a complete nonsense, and the longer that this goes on, the more absurd it appears.”

As we reported earlier, Verona Murphy will almost undoubtedly survive a no confidence motion in her as the Government have the numbers and will back her.

Asked what the opposition will do next if Murphy survives the no confidence motion, Rose Conway-Walsh says: “Our job is to hold the Government to account, and that is what we are doing in this instance.”

She says Sinn Féin will use their private members time in the Dáil chamber next Tuesday to debate the no confidence motion. 

“I have no doubt that there’s members of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael who see this for what it is, who cannot come out and explain it in why you have a position where you want TDs to be in government and opposition at the same time,” she says. 

Asked if her party will respect the outcome of the confidence vote, she says: “Obviously we have to respect the Dáil, and we do that at all times.”

When asked if Sinn Féin will respect the office of Ceann Comhairle if Verona Murphy remains in her position after the vote, Conway-Walsh says: “We always respect the authority of the office.

We will discuss with the other opposition leaders and the other opposition parties what happens in that case. But for now, we’ve made it absolutely clear we no longer retain confidence in the Ceann Comhairle and that applies to all opposition parties.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Verona Murphy has said that she fully intends to continue as Ceann Comhairle and rejected “false allegations of collusion made against me” in the Dáil today.

The Wexford TD has released a lengthy statement this evening, after opposition parties drafted a motion of no confidence in her. 

In the statement, she said she “solemnly” declares that she will “duly and faithfully and to the best of my knowledge and ability execute the office of Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann without fear or favour”.

She also said she will “apply the rules as laid down by this House in an impartial and fair manner, and maintain order and uphold the rights and privileges of Members in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann”. 

“I have loyally, scrupulously, and impartially adhered to my solemn undertakings made to the House, and through the House to the Irish people,” she said. 

Murphy also said she rejects “totally unfounded allegations” against her over her impartiality during proceedings in the Dáil yesterday. 

“I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present. The Clerk of Dáil Éireann has independently prepared a report on yesterday’s proceedings detailing the procedures followed. It has been laid before the Dáil and accordingly is a public document,” she said. 

I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dáil upon my election.

“I call on every member of the House to reflect on and abide by their own constitutional obligations, to refrain from disorder, and to respect the rights and dignity of every other member and of the House itself.”

Here is Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy’s statement in full: 

“I was elected as Ceann Comhairle by the majority of members of Dáil Éireann on the 18th of December 2024. The speaking rights issue has been a significant and divisive issue since January of this year.

“As has been reported, my office has endeavoured in utmost good faith over the intervening two months to find a compromise between government and opposition in relation to the speaking rights issue without success. Despite months of negotiation no consensus resolution of this dispute was achieved.

“As elected Ceann Comhairle I made the declaration required by the Dáil Standing Orders on assuming office in the following terms:

“I do solemnly declare that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my knowledge and ability execute the office of Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann without fear or favour, apply the rules as laid down by this House in an impartial and fair manner, and maintain order and uphold the rights and privileges of Members in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann.”

“I have accordingly solemn obligations to (i) act without fear or favour, (ii) to apply the rules laid down fairly and impartially, (iii) to maintain order and (iv) to uphold the rights of every single elected member.

“I have loyally, scrupulously, and impartially adhered to my solemn undertakings made to the House, and through the House to the Irish people.

“The Constitution provides that Dáil Éireann elects its own chairman and prescribes the powers and duties of that office, and provides that the Dáil makes its own rules and Standing Orders, and that every question in the House is determined by a majority of the members present and voting other than the presiding Ceann Comhairle.

“Prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament. So too is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and Chair. By virtue of the independence of the office of Ceann Comhairle, I am in the unenviable position that I cannot descend at will into debate to defend myself against the entirely false allegations of collusion made against me in the Dáil today.

“I categorically reject these totally unfounded allegations. I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present. The Clerk of Dáil Éireann has independently prepared a report on yesterday’s proceedings detailing the procedures followed. It has been laid before the Dáil and accordingly is a public document .

“I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dáil upon my election.

“I call on every member of the House to reflect on and abide by their own constitutional obligations, to refrain from disorder, and to respect the rights and dignity of every other member and of the House itself.”

A letter from the clerk of the Dáil has also been published alongside Verona Murphy’s statement.

In the letter, addressed to the Ceann Comhairle, Peter Finnegan writes that he is “setting out the position regarding the procedures and advice followed at yesterday’s sitting of Dáil Éireann”. 

He writes:

“The significant level of disorder in the Chamber continued even after the resumption of the sitting following a 30-minute suspension under Standing Order 79. In the circumstances, you exercised your discretion, as was your entitlement under Standing Order 36, to proceed directly to proceedings on the motion re Amendment of Standing Orders.”

Finnegan writes that Standing Order 63 provides that if a member does not move a motion or amendment which stands in their name, that motion or amendment “shall lapse unless moved by another member”. 

“You called on the Government Chief Whip to move the motion, which she duly moved. You then twice called on Deputy Mary Lou McDonald to move the amendment in her name and asked if the amendment was agreed. You then declared that the amendment was not agreed. No member dissented from this declaration,” he writes. 

“As the Order of Business as agreed provided that the motion be taken without debate, you were obliged to immediately proceed to put the question on the motion itself. The motion was put to the House, members said “Vótáil”, the Clerk rang the bells, and the division was taken in accordance with Standing Orders.”

He goes on to write that after the vote concluded yesterday, Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn refused to sign the teller sheet. 

“Standing Order 91 provides as follows: If the Ceann Comhairle is satisfied that the taking of the division has been obstructed and the tellers of one side refuse to comply with Standing Order 90 without good reason, he or she may declare the determination of the Dáil in favour of the other side,” he writes. 

“The decision under this Standing Order, which is aimed at preventing the obstruction of divisions due to gross disorder and refusal by duly nominated tellers to fulfil their obligations under Standing Orders, is entirely at the Ceann Comhairle’s discretion.

“Therefore, your decision yesterday to declare the motion agreed was fully compliant with Standing Orders and the powers conferred upon you as Ceann Comhairle.”

In his general observations about the role of the Chair and yesterday’s Dáil proceedings, the Dáil clerk Peter Finnegan writes that once a matter reaches the floor of the Dáil and is duly ordered, “the Ceann Comhairle must proceed with the business as ordered”.

He writes that the Ceann Comhairle “cannot allow a situation where disorderly conduct is allowed to frustrate the business of the Dáil”. 

“Otherwise, the Dáil would be unable to discharge its constitutional functions.”

He writes that yesterday’s proceedings “were extraordinarily difficult for the Chair and indeed for all the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service who support the work of the Dáil Chamber”.

The operation of the Dáil is only possible if members accept the Chair’s authority and rulings.

“Ultimately the Constitution provides that all decisions are made by a majority of the members present and voting,” he continues.

“Notwithstanding the unprecedented level of dissent yesterday, once a matter is put to the House, the only remedy for those dissenting is through the voting process in the House.”

Can Michael Lowry be sanctioned for the two-fingered gesture he made to fellow TD Paul Murphy?

It’s understood that it’s never happened before, but my colleague Muiris O’Cearbhaill asked the Oireachtas whether Lowry can expect to face any consequences.

You can read what they said here.

TD Michael Lowry in the Dáil yesterday

Minister of State Thomas Byrne sat down with RTÉ on the Six One News to discuss the situation. 

He said he doesn’t believe the “serious” allegations about Murphy’s impartiality.

Opposition parties, he said, “have to be put to the pin of their collar” and asked if they’ll accept the result of the confidence vote next week, “finally, once and for all”.

“If we have points of dispute in our democracy, we have votes and it is incumbent on all of us to accept those votes.”

Byrne said he doesn’t want Ireland to become like America, “where elections are not accepted”.

Thomas Byrne TD on the Six One News RTÉ RTÉ

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has just released a statement calling the opposition’s attitude to the Ceann Comhairle “extraordinary”, and accusing Sinn Féin of engaging “in bad faith”.

“It beggars belief that Sinn Féin in particular, who shouted and roared during Leaders Questions yesterday in a clearly organised manner, and who refused point blank to cooperate, are now accusing the Ceann Comhairle of bias and failing to follow procedures,” he said.

It was Sinn Féin who screamed and roared while the Ceann Comhairle called for a vote, rather than moving their own amendment.

“It was a deliberate strategy. They didn’t want to participate in proceedings at all. They didn’t want to facilitate a legitimate vote on new standing orders for this Dáil.”

Martin described the behaviour as undemocratic, saying Sinn Féin want to “dictate the majority”.

“In 106 years of democracy in Ireland the opposition has never refused to let Dáil business proceed. That’s the politics of the street.”

Verona Murphy has no intention of resigning from her position as Ceann Comhairle.

The opposition parties have drafted a motion of no confidence in her, which will be debated next week.

The Government is set to back Murphy in any vote on the matter, meaning any no confidence motion will be defeated. 

So what happens next?

Our political editor Christina Finn writes that the difficulty for Murphy going forward, after defeating such a motion, would be her maintaining her authority and being seen as impartial, which the opposition have clearly said they do not believe she is.

You can read her full piece here.

At Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party meeting, a motion was proposed to say that the chief whip Mary Butler had the unanimous support of the party in seeking to vindicate their speaking rights.

Members also said the gesture made by Independent TD Michael Lowry was “completely inappropriate”, but so too was the “toxic, barricking, and intimidating behaviour” of the opposition towards the Ceann Comhairle, who had the support of the many members that spoke at this evening’s meeting.

We’re going to wrap our liveblog up for the evening. Thank you for staying with our coverage throughout the day. 

We’ll bring you any new developments on our site.