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THE ISSUE OF a Dáil dress code is one that moved some members of the public enough to bring it up with the Ceann Comhairle of Leinster House, newly-released correspondence shows.
Last October, Dáil Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl of Fianna Fáil told the Dáil Committee on Procedure that the attire of parliamentarians was a source of constant complaint to him personally from members of the public.
Those complaints, which have now been released to TheJournal.ie under Freedom of Information, suggest a broad dissatisfaction with the lack of a specific code in the Dáil on one hand, and an unhappiness at TDs using their clothing for political statements, specifically about the Eighth Amendment, on the other.
At present, Dáil rules specify merely that deputies attending should “dress in a manner which reflects the dignity and decorum of the House”.
Of the seven missives delivered directly to Ó Fearghaíl on the subject between June 2016 and March 2017 six came from members of the public, and one from an elected representative – Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal Alan Farrell.
“In light of media reports regarding the implementation of a dress code for members of the Oireachtas, I would like to support your reported position on this matter,” Farrell wrote on 14 October last.
In line with the Dáil rules stating the members should be dressed ‘in a manner that reflects the dignity of the House’, I believe that the implementation of a dress code would uphold this principle in showing respect for the House in which the electorate have given us the honour of serving as their public representatives and working as national legislators on their behalf.
The decision of six members of the then AAA (now Solidarity)/PBP to wear Repeal jumpers in the Dáil chamber last September, regarding the Eighth Amendment, dominates two of the letters delivered to the Ceann Comhairle.
“Shame on all the TDs who dishonoured our government chambers… by wearing t-shirts espousing their demands for ‘abortion’ on demand,” wrote one Mayo citizen in late September.
Dáil Éireann is for all the people of Ireland not for ‘lobby groups’ with nefarious agendas.
Another writer emailed the Ceann Comhairle to decry the TDs’ statement.
“Just when I thought the tone of the Dáil couldn’t be lowered any further, I see the PBP/AAA are now wearing t-shirts in the chamber,” they wrote on 27 September.
For the record, I am pro-choice but the ‘Repeal’ t-shirts they are wearing today have no place in the Dáil chamber and it is high time you brought some dignity back to our parliament.
This might be considered to be slightly harsh given Ó Fearghaíl had only been in his role for about six months at that stage, for almost a third of which the Dáil was at rest given no government had been formed.
“A dress code needs to be introduced now, and adhered to. The parliament over which you preside is a disgrace,” the writer added.
‘Slept in his clothes’
While the remainder of the letters written to the Ceann Comhairle are focused on the need for a dress code in order to preserve the ‘dignity’ of the Dáil chamber, they nevertheless focus on those TDs who generally choose to attend Leinster House in casual dress.
“Surely there must be a dress code for our elected members when they sit discussing parliamentary business in the Dáil,” wrote one impassioned correspondent last October.
This same writer makes a point that will likely have members of the press corps nodding in agreement:
“I have heard that the press reporters have to wear jacket and tie, and are reprimanded when they do not do so,” they said.
Do the same standards or even better not apply to our elected representatives?
“A small group of TDs seem to control the Dáil on this matter,” they add. “I thought that in a democracy the majority rule holds sway. What a bad example they are to young people, who, when they take up employment are told to dress neatly and appropriately.”
TDs Mick Wallace, Richard Boyd Barrett and Clare Daly meanwhile come in for a deal of criticism for their casual approach from one emailer last July.
“Deputies Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, and Richard Boyd Barrett appear to have no respect for your office or don’t care that their dress code which can be beamed all over the world is an embarrassment to the people of Ireland, and the other deputies wear a suit and tie and the female TDs put a lot of effort in to look well. And in fairness both Healy-Rae brothers take their caps off during all sittings of the Dáil they attend,” they wrote.
I am sure if you walked into the Dáil without your ceremonial robes and wore a pink t-shirt and did not groom yourself you would be lambasted by all leaders of each party so can you please stop this blatant disregard by some deputies to you the Ceann Comhairle, to the House, and the citizens of Ireland.
The fact that Ó Fearghaíl has to wear a gown while dispensing his duties as Ceann Comhairle is likewise not lost on yet another correspondent.
“I’m sure that someone like you who has to wear a gown in the course of your job must find it galling to have certain people so shabbily dressed while they receive a big salary,” they wrote.
The same person does not mince his words in, rather uncharitably, suggesting that Wexford Independents4Change TD Mick Wallace is “someone who looks like he slept in his clothes for a week”.
“I was also horrified to see Ming Flanagan dressed in a cartoon t-shirt while representing Ireland in the European Parliament,” they added.
So what solutions are offered by those objecting to what they consider to be slovenly dress habits within Leinster House? Only one is proffered:
“May I suggest a rule, that to be recognised to speak in debate, on points of order or during the question period, tradition and practice should be required that all members, male or female, be required to dress in contemporary business attire.”
The closest a dress code came to actually being implemented in Dáil Éireann was in 2011 when a proposal was drafted to request TDs and Senators to wear appropriate business attire, but the proposal was rejected.
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“the ‘Repeal’ t-shirts they are wearing today have no place in the Dáil chamber”
I assume the same person complained about the Dail prayer?
@Ryan Comiskey: “oh no no, i think the dail prayer is lovely, just lovely, very appropriate”
@Ryan Comiskey: Unlilely, since the complainer was made long before the new prayer rules were brought in or even proposed.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: that makes no sense, Neal – they could have made one AFTER the Dail prayer rules were brought in. That’s what I’m wondering. I doubt they did.
@Ryan Comiskey: What kind of person would bother, to even go to the trouble and we all know what damage men in suits have done to our country. If the person, wore shorts and a t-shirt? I couldn’t care less, as long as they’re honest and doing their job.
@Stephen murphy: if you went to the dentist tomorrow and he wore Bermuda shorts, flip flops, a Mohican and a ring in his nose, would you form a prejudiced opinion?
I think you would and most people would.
He might be a very good dentist though, don’t judge.
@Tom Burke: if you form a prejudiced opinion of your dentist based on their clothing, that’s your problem (being prejudiced), not theirs
@Alan Lawlor: it’d be their problem when nobody came to them.
@Alan Lawlor: don’t shoot the messenger Alan. That’s life.
We form these opinions all the time.
When somebody is walking towards you going down the street you form an opinion on whether they are a threat or not, based solely on how they dress.
That’s the truth.
@Tom Burke: anyone wearing what you described would look ridiculous.. jeans and t shirt is what my dentist does wear, with the legally required medical scrubs over them. For hygiene reasons. If my dentist wore a suit instead of jeans and t shirt walking into work I wouldn’t be any more, or less, impressed. As long as they are good at their job, I’m happy
Good old ‘anything goes’ Ireland, again. Am sick to the teeth listening to so called Liberal agendas- with neither principle, pride, promise nor people of any concern to them. Time to get a grip you guys. Stop the little self-serving, niche agendas, they are doing no good for any of our citizens. Just have a GOOD look at other Parliaments- House of Commons, Paris, Germany, etc Dress “Code”?? Wallace, RBB, and Co. wouldn’t get in- let alone be allowed stay! And I believe they don’t have a ” dress code”- it’s called a little “respect ” for the citizens they represent AND it’s called “Cop On”. Stop the attention seeking, those insidious dressers… Earn your reputation on your Work and Results, not constantly looking for attention via your dress sense- or lack of..
@Margate: oooorrrrrrr, let them dress how they like, and get on with their jobs, your argument makes as much sense as everyone else who just throws the word “liberal” into everything they done like about the world!
@Russell Dalton:
Let them go naked.
Especially Nama Noonan and M M O’Connor
@Christy Nolan: I have just vomited up a little sick, at that image
@Margate: It doesn’t matter what they dress like. Typical snobbery bullsh*t.
@Christy Nolan: Noonan once did go naked. Even see Jabbah the Hut in Star Wars.
The Healy -Raes took off their caps….. is that not the fourth sign of the Apocalypse?
@Catherine Sims: They had to take their caps off because the had a big dinner.
The biggest crooks in the Dail are wearing suits, shirts and ties, just give me honesty
Ironic that those advocating the casual sloppy dress code do so on the basis of judging a book by its cover.
Suit = elite and corrupt
Sloppy casual = principled and honest
Dressing like a slob as a badge of honour is its own form of arrogant egotistic elitism – disrespecting our institution.
@alphanautica: Yes, it’s all very ‘sans-culotte’ of them.
@Steven C. Schulz: … derelicte … zoolander would be proud.
@alphanautica: Sloppy casual = principled and honest hmm how much money does Mick Wallace owe the revenue? Paul Murphy – false imprisoning and how many times did he tell people not to pay water property charges yet pays those charges himself when he upgrades his home from 250,000 to a 350,000 on a wage according to himself of 21,000 which would only entitle him to a TOTAL mortgage of 3.5 times that (73,5000).
Don’t con yourself if you think sloppy and casual means principled and honest. There isn’t one of them there that I would trust but everyone of them should dress appropriately as they do represent the people of Ireland, like it or not.
Some of them do look like they’ve woken up beside a cold pizza in fairness…
They should introduce “casual Fridays”. Half day and straight to the battle cruiser
@Don Juan: don’t they have Fridays off for “constituency work”
@Don Juan: If they had no pub, in their place of work and then they wouldn’t be hungover. I don’t hear all these lefties, demanding it be closed down and I’m no righty.
@Stephen murphy: Sinn Fein want it closed
TD’s should dress whatever way they want. The elite bankers who saddled future generations with debt that can never be repaid wear suits and it might make them feel important and above the law but in reality they are greedy sociopaths who brought this country to it’s knees! No probs, though, polish the shoes, straighten the tie and they’re good to go again.
@Super Ted: the elite also wear underpants. Are our rebel leftie TDs also going commando in the Dail in order to distinguish themselves from the underpanted elite?
@Super Ted: Ted, imagine bring your child to the surgeon today – he needs a heart operation and you walk in and the surgeon looks like he hasn’t shaven in days, looks hung over, looks like he doesn’t look after himself, looks like he doesn’t care. Would you be happy?
A surgeon can mess up one person’s life very quickly, TDs mess up the whole country.
Dress code doesn’t make a person do a better job but they are representing the people of Ireland, so they should show the Irish people some respect.
Obeying a dress code in Parliament is a mark of respect to the citizenry who elect the Parliament.
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: So you think, most of the Suit guys in politics respect you as a person or just want your vote and to hell with you after that.
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: I’d be entirely happy to halve their salaries and let them dress according to their means, not in keeping with the amount of tax harvested from the voting public.
I don’t give a Fig what TD’s wear, I would much rather they be accountable for the jobs they do than what they wear, I’d much rather see strict laws which made it easy to jail corrupt and self serving politicians instead of allowing them to keep making up new rules to make it easier to be crooked!
I’d rather see proper police investigation and jailed politicians instead of tribunals where the ones being investigated pick the legal people to investigate them and even after when they find corruption they are protected from prosecution!
Whatever about political leanings there is absolutely no excuse for the blatant disrespect some td”s show for the institution. Wallace being the worst offender. It’s bad enough some wearing ghastly T Shirts but with added stains is unacceptable. The Dail has become a laughing stock. If an ordinary citizen turned up to work in some of the clothes chosen by certain TD’s , they would be sent home. It’s not a statement, it’s not being Hip, it being outrageously disrespectful for an institution hard fought for and some need to reminded of same and immediately.
There’s a lot of moaners out there with sand up their asscracks and too much time on their hands! Probably the same people who write to the BAI whinging about lack of “balance”.
@DaisyChainsaw: the exact same ones – they’re called catholics.
Mick Wallace looks like the drunken neighbor who has been up all night on the rip and is off to the off licence for more cans,
A haircut shave shirt and pants would certainly go a long way with getting more support,
He just looks scruffy and sweaty.
@martin.: Wallace has done more with his work on Garda whistleblowers and Nama than the majority of suited and booted backbenchers could ever dream of. Let him wear what he likes, it’s not affecting his work.
@Richard Keogh: If he can achieve all that now, imagine what he could if he do if he put on a pair of pants and learned how to comb his hair. The world would be his oyster.
@Richard Keogh: @martin.: Wallace, sad scruffy old fart trying hard to look cool by dressing like a young lad half his age. Tax dodger. Supporter of extremely violent criminals. But sure he must be a great fella because he doesn’t wear a suit to work.
In other news, important stuff happened.
@Russell Dalton: At 3:15am on a Sunday? Are you sure?
I’d suggest Alan Farrell is a bit of a brown noser with little to be doing.
@lavbeer: Sure he has his wife employed to do everything for him!
The atire of a TD should be very low on the list of issues facing our country. These Joe Duffy fans should be more concerned with the incompetent, suited TDs and their inability to tell the truth or do what’s best for the country.
@Liam Byrne: Joe Duffy should be the last person to be sobbing about the poor misfortunate poor with his fat salary,(bet he wouldn’t get that sort of salary at any independent station) more than the Taoiseach is getting. Bet he too could ask the hard questions, but could he give an answer that would be acceptable.
When summoned to Court to face charges, I wonder does a sloppy TD suddenly find themselves drawn to wearing a suit & tie?
@alphanautica: I’d like to say he does, but Wallace wore the same pink t-shirt to court.
What the TDs actually do or don’t do matters.
What they wear is irrelevant.
I’d rather public reps who look like they’ve not slept in a week in dodgy clothes, as opposed to gombeens who want to introduce unenforcable laws such as the child phone Internet thing. More mick Wallaces and less empty vase Jim daly ‘s and children of retired tds please
That Farrell lad has a neck like a jockeys Bowlax considering his own unscrupulous behaviour in Dail Eireann.
these brave letter-writers truly have the country’s best interests at heart, god bless them every one
Seems the badly dressed politicians are getting under the skin of FG ☺️
@Ryan Comiskey: Ah yes, the old ‘but what about that’ argument. Let them have a bit of repect for the parliament of our country and at least try to look respectable and then make a case for removing the prayer.
@jason bourne: get back to me when you learn how to use the ‘reply’ function. I think you’ll find my original comment is way up the top of the page, while yours is down here all lonely like a pleb.
The TDs who turn up for work looking like they are dressed to relax for the weekend should show some respect to the citizens who are paying their salaries and expenses .
Since the majority opinion is supposed to count I guess that if the Public were asked to vote most people would vote for the introduction of a dress code .
We all make a special effort to dress well for special occasions.
What’s more special than having the privilege to be elected to be a member of the Government . There is a small group , and we all know who they are , are very vocal and I and many others are fed up listening to them and the way they dress is just more of a strategy to bring attention to themselves.
Let them wear whatever they like
They are not elected to dress well they are elected to work for the people.I couldn’t give a toss what they wear so long as they are doing what they are paid to do.
I actually think it’s good that some dress differently to the norm eg. Mick Wallace as it represents the people in society who are never in suits unless it’s a wedding or funeral.
Just on Mick Wallace he is getting more done than most that are in cabinet eg. Garda whistleblowers
What would be the reaction if say Enda Kenny wore a ‘don’t repeal the 8th’ t-shirt?.
The biggest conmen in the dail have proven to be the ones in the suits!
Election coming and blueshirts getting scared
It was the sharks in the sharp suits shagged the country and society too. Not the t-shirt and jeans wearing peaceniks (though one of them did er forget to remember that million was only supposed to be a short while resting in his account before being handed over to the VAT man.)
It doesn’t matter whether a cat is black or white as long as it catches a mouse. Dail dress codes my overtaxed and pension-robbed arras. Never mind the Emperors’ new clothes. Mind how they are ruling us.
Ideas for a fundraiser for the Homeless
Persuade Mick Wallace to volunteer to do a makeover before and after .
Just imagine him in a suit with a proper haircut he would probably look great ,the change would be so dramatic .
All Fianna Gael rampant snobbery. Anyone not wearing a suit is unacceptable to them. They must be shown to be upperclass and wealthy. Its the Fianna Gael dress code for the rich and monied class. They bear no relationship whatsoever with reality of any of the people living in this country not rich.
I don’t care what they wear ,but make it compulsory that they wear hair shirts underneath all their outer clothes.
As a penance for all the pain they have inflicted on the sick ,homeless and the young and all the many other disadvantaged groups
Far from suits they were reared
Thank god suits are usually kept for weddings and funerals, the thought of kitting out like that before work each day makes me forever grateful to work in tech.
It would cheer the public up no end if they could stipulate what varadkar, martin, adams or boyd barret had to wear on workwear-wednesday once a month. They could tender out the contract for these uniforms to the public for 15 minutes on a friday evening before they award it to denis. Think of the possibilities. It would be grand, sure nobody but the irish watch oireachtas tv.
In fairness some of them wouldn’t be allowed into McDonalds, the state of them. It’s our government so have some respect even if you have none for yourself
put them all in overalls/jumpsuits – colour-coded according to Party
have your say