Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
MARY LOU MCDONALD has rejected claims by the leader of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that Sinn Féin and other opposition parties coordinated together today to disrupt the election of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach.
Martin described today’s chaotic scenes in the Dáil as the “subversion of the Irish Constitution” as incoming Tánaiste Simon Harris described today’s events as “utterly farcical”.
The Dáil met at 11am this morning and was supposed to be voting on a new Taoiseach, but the chamber was adjourned following a chaotic and ongoing row over speaking time in the opposition.
Members of the opposition argued that the Regional Independent Group should not be sitting alongside them or taking their speaking time as four members of the pack of TDs had negotiated the programme for government.
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy suspended the Dáil twice as opposition TDs protested the decision that allowed them to stay.
After returning at 4pm, Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton attempted to continue proceedings as planned and begin nominations for Taoiseach. The move was met with even more protests, and shouts that the decision was a “disgrace”.
No new Taoiseach was elected after the Dáil was adjourned until tomorrow morning. Martin told reporters outside Government Buildings in Dublin that it was the obligation of the Dáil to elect a Taoiseach and a government.
He claimed the opposition, and namely Sinn Féin, had blocked the vote in a “premeditated, coordinated and choreographed” move.
It’s fair to say Simon Harris and Micheal Martin are not happy. pic.twitter.com/6k3Xy0Xbjg
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) January 22, 2025
“There was numerous attempts to facilitate agreement. At various times, people thought agreements had been arrived at, and it became very clear to us that there was no intention ever to reach agreement on the nomination of a Taoiseach or a Government.
This is the first time, I think, in over 100 years, that the Dáil has failed to elect a government, to fulfill its constitutional obligation.
Martin said “any other issues pale in significance” in comparison to that “fundamental obligation”.
Harris, the Fine Gael leader, said there was a clear majority of the people’s representatives “ready and willing” to elect the next government.
“Instead, what we saw was an effort to obstruct, an effort to shout down, an effort to disrespect the Ceann Comhairle and her constitutional office, and ultimately preventing a majority of the democratically elected representatives of Dáil Éireann to discharge their duty and their mandate to elect a Taoiseach.”
Harris was strongly critical of the Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was among the opposition TDs in the Dáil to oppose members of the Regional Independents being given opposition speaking rights.
He claimed that McDonald was the only party leader who spoke in the Dáil today and did so with “one purpose” – to block the nomination of the Taoiseach – adding that the public would “see through this”.
“What happened today was stunt politics on speed, led my Mary Lou McDonald.”
He acknowledged that other party leaders had also protested over the speaking time row, not just the leader of the opposition, after being challenged on the point by journalists.
He said that a Dáil reform committee was due to meet tomorrow to begin resolving the issue. When asked if it would be easier for the regional independent TDs to enter government as backbenchers, he told media that it was “not the issue”.
“Micheál Martin and Simon Harris have no role in deciding what the Ceann Comhairle’s directions are in relation to technical groups. None whatsoever. That is a ruling of the Ceann Comhairle,” Harris said.
He said that it was up to Murphy to make a decision on who is permitted to start technical groupings to qualify for speaking time and that she had made it “very clear” that he issues would be resolved in the new committee.
Naughton also claimed that there had been meetings with the party whips today and an agreement was made to pass a motion this evening to establish the new committee. She said, however, that “all bets were off” once the Dáil resumed.
A very different version of events was recalled by opposition leaders outside Leinster House this evening.
Speaking to reporters, People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett, Labour’s Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats’ Cian O’Callaghan, Independent Ireland’s Michael Collins and Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald all outright rejected claims that an agreement had been made.
According to the group, it was their understanding that the Dáil would be adjourned this evening and that all party leaders would take place so that a resolution would be found.
McDonald wholly rejected the claim that she wanted to disrupt Dáil proceedings today. She said, however, that the opposition will continue to “stand firm” in their position.
“This mess was created by the government,” she told reporters, adding that the incoming coalition had been aware of the disagreement for at least a week.
She said it was imperative to the Irish democratic process to protest a move that allowed those who supported the incoming coalition and negotiated the programme for government to sit in the opposition benches.
This point was echoed by all party leaders this evening in Dublin. Collins said that it was their duty, in the interest of those who elected the TDs, that there is a “very clear opposition” in the Dáil.
“We have not refused the regionals the right to speak from within government time,” Collins said. “The government that they want to support, and it’s their choice.”
“But unfortunately, they [the Regional Independent Group] want their bread buttered on both sides – and that can’t work. Democracy has to stand here.”
Micheál Martin also said that Verona Murphy was “treated in an appalling manner”.
“I think the Ceann Comhairle was bullied from the outset. I think there were comments made that should never have been made, by Deputy Matt Carthy in particular.”
He also said he believed there was “attempted intimidation” and an effort “to hold the government to ransom”.
“It’s an extraordinary situation that someone can attempt to rationalise the idea that you don’t vote on the nomination of the Taoiseach. That you deny a legitimate democratic, parliamentary process of voting,” Martin continued.
“This has never happened in the history of the State before. By all means, have your disagreements, but this is very fundamental, as far as I’m concerned, and I’m in Dáil Éireann since 1989. I’ve never witnessed this. There is no excuse for it. No justification for it.”
Asked if he accepted the opposition having concerns about having to share their speaking time with government backbenchers, Harris said there were proposals put forward today to try and address issues in relation to speaking time going forward.
“The people who got elected as TDs for Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and independents also have a mandate in Dáil Eireann,” he said.
“It was crystal clear to everyone when they got out of the bed this morning that there was a majority of the people’s representatives, who have mandates as well, who wanted to elect a taoiseach and a government today to discharge their constitutional duties.
“And Dáil Éireann has ended today without that opportunity being allowed because of these shenanigans.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Excellent article, the Irish state must have the best minds on this. Apple may be a one-off, but if anything is found re the Apple tax arrangements the investigators will be looking at other multinationals located in Ireland.
Apples is not a one off but at least they can justify their tax deal with the amount if people they employ here. There are several companies who employ very few here that have similar deals
The EU is not interested in how many people they employ. They are interested in tax rules. And they will fine if they find fault and as usual not care about potential damage to the people of Ireland.
It’s quite shocking how people wrap themselves in the national flag to defend these highly questionable tax arrangements. Apple has made staggering profits, paying hardly any tax in Ireland or elsewhere in the EU. It contributes very little to the Irish or European economy. In a time where the poor and vulnerable are paying the highest cost for economic crisis it is only fair that these multinationals pay a fair share.
It’s not that black and white. They leave Ireland – then say goodbye to over 3000 jobs in Cork. It would be catastrophic to the area.
indeed it would be “fair” that Apple does not take advantage of a favourable tax deal with Ireland. It would be “fair” that it paid tax in France for the profit made in France. The point here is that it would be a serious blow to the Irish economy because, yes, we are partly funded by the money we unfairly allow companies to not pay into other countries’ tax coffers. Any return to “fairness” here would be our loss. So if you want fairness, be prepared to pay more tax, Dom, as we may soon lose the taxes (unfairly) paid by Apple here.
If there is proved to be a sweetheart deal with Apple, as opposed to Apple taking advantage of a loophole, we should not defend the indefensible. We should close the gaps open to creative accounting, remove the Double Irish loophole and lower the corporation tax rate to 9% to offset losses. Our tax regime should be airtight legally, but low in percentage.
Hi Neil
Thanks for the comment.
The matter is not one of defending the action, it is about defending the country from having to pay a fine that would wreck the public finances. Companies are now being fined close to €1Bn. A similar or larger fine would do horrible damage to the country.
Bye, bye apple. The core is now rotten. Time to plant the seed somewhere else. USA up to its old tricks again.
Apple metaphors. Nice.
Scary
Are people not aware you or I would go to prison if we engaged in the same practice’s as Apple and the rest. Tax dodging is tax dodging end of. While they might benefit cork., they do nothing for our economy as a whole. So we continue to get hit with more taxes while these parasites avoid contributing.
13 trillion folks and that is only the tip of the iceberg of what these parasites are hiding in taxes globally. Wake up.
so say they find ireland and apple clean does this mean the irish state can sue the US senate and newspapers and media that actually might not of done any back checking at all so we could get rid of water charges and property tax cause that would be swell but you know thats a if ireland are clean sure we will be grand ;)
Our problem is we think if we don’t give into these big companies they will leave, now its too late we did it once too often. The Governments have over the years sold this Country
as a free for all, just look at the expense of medicines here the highest in Europe. Our government thinks thats ok.
Sure they will pay they wont say a word
Lets show them by uniting next Saturday for the water rates, and we wont stop there.
Why do we sell ourselves short
Interesting.
have your say