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The Daily PollTHERE WERE CHAOTIC scenes in Leinster House yesterday following a row between the incoming government and opposition.
At the core of the dispute was whether those in the Regional Independent group, who were involved in the government formation talks, are entitled to Opposition speaking time.
On the one hand, Independents in the grouping want the speaking time so they can advocate for their constituents. On the other, opposition parties are arguing that the Independents are not part of the opposition, as they’ve had input into the programme for government, and therefore should not be eating into the opposition’s speaking time.
The row resulted in four suspensions of the Dáil, accusations of “stunt politics on speed”, and ultimately, no Taoiseach elected.
The Dáil is meeting again this morning, but we’ll have to wait and see if both sides are ready to resolve the issue.
So today we’re asking: Whose side are you on in the Dáil row?
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Honestly can’t comprehend how anyone could side with the government on this, regardless of your politics. It’s disgusting and anti-democratic, regardless of how you dress it up. At the very best, it’s a political stroke. In reality, it is an affront to democracy that our media and ff/fg would shout about if Trump pulled such a stunt. Right and wrong are very clear here. I wish the media would call it as such.
@James Groden: the only “people” siding with the government is the one multi account troll who’s only here to talk rubbish
@James Groden: Michael Lowry is running the show. He got his Ceann Comhairle. He might as well be next Taoiseach .
@James Groden: Absoutely. Hopefully it will make wake people up to the wider bad-faith FFG arrangement that is completely eroding the public’s trust.
@Luke Littler: Unfortunately Michael has his Taoiseach socks ironed and he won’t be held back again.
@James Groden: boot lickers gonna lick boot
This is legitimately disturbing. It was a sly, anti-democratic and utterly reprehensible act by an arrogant and self-serving incoming government. It’s so disappointing that they’re back in. The mainstream media are quickly becoming a mere echo chamber for those in power.
@James Groden: agreed, I voted for incumbents, but even I couldn’t comprehend how FFG could think this was even remotely likely to fly. Some very poor judgement there.
@Patrick MC Dermott: when i hear Michael Lowry i think Will Smith in Bad Boys (1995)
Lowry and friends approved the programme for government and should have speaking time as part of the government, not opposition.
I cannot imagine how anyone could believe otherwise.
@Rochelle Hart: defo.. but Lowry is being investigated again and shouldnt be in goverment at all in my opinion ..
@Stiles: The Gardaí should re-open the investigation into his crooked antics in giving DoB the mobile phone contract for Esat Digifone. DoB, worth a few million at the time is now a billionaire and Lowry is FFG’s top man.
There is evidence of this corruption, heck I know a few people who worked on the Esat deal and they would give evidence under oath about the shenanigans that went on to ensure that DoB got his grubby little hands on Irelands second mobile phone franchise.
@Rochelle Hart: The issue is the institutions of this state were abused yesterday in preventing the election of a Taoseach
@Stiles: Martin was the on numerous occasions mentioning Lowrey’s suitabity to be in the Dail at all after the Tribunals – he seems to have changed him mind !!!
WHO votes for these kind of people !!
@Margret Walsh: They had him in for questioning last week. And it’s a case of cute whorism that gets him re-elected. For some strange reason, there is a cohort of people in this country who admire that trait in other people, mainly because they indulge in it themselves. Lowry should have been banned from ever running for election again when the Tribunal published its findings.
What happened in the Dáil yesterday was a disgrace and Hildegard walked back in to the chamber and told blatant lies when she said that all parties and technical groups had come to an agreement, when that was NOT the case. How she got re-elected again, beats me.
@Tim Brennan: it’s back to the days of Haughey, Hearn and Lowry political gangsters that cost the tax paying citizens of our country million in tribunal’s.
This debacle showed up the arrogance of Martin and Harris, and although unseemly, needed to put those two and their lickspittles back into their box.
It’s actually the first time in long time, I’ve seen them held to account.
@Dog Tired: Completely agree. The sight of them both accusing the opposition of what they themselves are guilty of! Shameless, absolutely shameless. For what died the sons of Roisin?
Mehole and Harris accusing the the opposition parties of “stunt politics” was pure ‘Gaslighting’.
I am on the side of FF/FG/RIG, the side of decency and integrity
@pee wee: love the irony.
@Dave Grant: I think they’re the same guy that was defending the insurrection in the US four years ago?
@pee wee: better make up more accounts quickly. Your side is getting trashed in the vote.
@Ger Whelan: my side will still be in government for the next 5 years lol
@pee wee: What’s that got to do with the fact government – elect is wrong in this instance?. Anyone who thinks supports people who are in government also being in opposition to government needs their head examined
@pee wee: Decency and integrity, the name Lowry springs to mind whenever those words are uttered…
@pee wee: You’re having a laugh, right? FF/FG have never had an ounce of decency. Where was their decency when they turned a blind eye to what the “religious” were doing – kidnapping, selling and trafficking of babies and children, the rape and murder of innocent women and children and the enslavement of women? Or are you just going to ignore that while insisting they are the pinnacle of decency? You’re just another mé féiner
@james rowan: Ha-ha – love it.
Whilst I do believe that the Independents cannot have their cake and eat it, it’s more the archaic rules of the Dail and allocation of speaking rights that is at fault.
The scenes from yesterday were reminders of primary schoolkids taking their ball home, and not a good example to be shown to the country, and the world at large.
The matter of speaking rights needs to be addressed, but holding up the formation of the democratically elected government, like it or not, does nothing to improve the lives of the citizens of our country.
@Liam Mycroft: That government in waiting already stated their intention to have a 2 week holiday after formation so they would be doing nothing anyway.
@Rochelle Hart: While I think the proposed 2 week break is too long, I do understand that the new cabinet members need a little time to get to grips with their new portfolios. Assuming many in different areas than before, and even new ministers wet behind the ears, maybe one week, as was already planned, and accepted by all, would be sufficient.
@Rochelle Hart: they don’t do anything anyways. It’s a permanent holiday they are on.
@Liam Mycroft: My God! A reasonable man has survived the tsunami of arrant rubbish spouted by the majority.
@Nick Vasilakis: One tries…..
@Liam Mycroft: this is the first time I remember incoming ministers need time to ease into their rather well paid posts. They are always well briefed on the business in hand from the get go and every assistance extended to them by the Civil Servants so they are never exactly flying blind into the fray.
If they can’t handle the job without a finger-under-the-words approach, they clearly haven’t the competency to be there in the first place. And they definitely won’t be able to handle an emergency situation should it arise.
Michael Martin should a apologies to the people of IRELAND
I’m on democracy’s side. FF/FG and these so-called independents have shown that they do not respect our democratic institutions. An absolute disgrace from an absolute shower of w**kers. Our country deserves better than these charlatans, shysters and tricksters.
@Anthony Curran: not possible, SF could not be further from democracy, they don’t even elect their leader
@Anthony Curran: The majority of the electorate voted for them , you keep rabbiting on about democracy and name call elected TDs, of course you’ll applaud SF et.al for acting like children in a school yard, Matt Cartys mask fell too….no manners, no guile, no clue on how to act professionally or gentlemanly.
Hyprocracy at it’s finest
I am on nobody’s side. The political elite are all in it for themselves and not the country.
The Govts fake outrage was pathetic.
@Tricia G28: exactly. It’s all fake
@Tricia G28: Sinn Fein the party of Ireland’s proud boys and girls political disruptors. The Irish Electorate are wise preventing those angry bullies from leading us in government.Yesterday proved they do not respect our state and its institutions
Although I agree with the opposition, I think their labelling of this as a “threat to democracy” is sensational and ridiculous to be honest. Many of these same independents supported the government the last time and our democracy didn’t cease to exist. We could be in a much worse position when you look at other democracies globally.
@Daire O’Reilly: Darling of Irish Left gives insight into the danger we were in when voters were being misinformed. “Driven by ongoing turmoil, as of June 2024, over 7.7 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014.”
@thomas molloy: WTF do you go on about? Your comments rarely make sense
@Dermot Blaine: looks like hes suggesting that 7.7 million Venezuelans have left Ireland since 2014. Didn’t know we had such a large Venezuelan population
The criminally corrupt are at it again. They should be locked up for treason
They are a disgrace to the men and women who died to put them seats under their holes .
Which cheek do I prefer?
Same arsse so makes no difference.
So I think people are missing the overall picture here. People and media saying it’s governments fault – fair enough, but we actually do not have a government. Government was absolved. Until we vote in a taoiseach and he forms a cabinet we actually do not have a government.
As for the independents having speaking time on the opposition side. Okay they may have negotiated program for government but until such time as a vote is taken in the Dail then you cannot say they are in government or supporting government.
@Gerald Coffey: rubbish
@Gerald Coffey: Ah here those things aren’t relevant to the majority on here as they don’t know who our parliamentary democracy works.
@Mona Murphy: what’s rubbish about what I said. Tell me exactly what part of above statement is wrong.
@Mona Murphy: I see a lot of people liking your rubbish comment. But I don’t see anybody saying what was wrong with what I said. Someone please educate me, what part of what I said was wrong
@Gerald Coffey: R u bb ish. You are dancing on the head of a needle. That is so irrelevant. The cute hoors are trying to make it hard for the real opposition to operate in the new government.
This is all fake and staged. None of these clowns make a slight difference. It’s all theatre to keep the plebs engaged.
Who gives a FFRIG?
They tried to pull a stroke and got called out on it. They should have done what they did today. Push it down the road to committee to decide.
The opposition parties were right in what they said but wrong in the way they reacted. Turning it into a screaming match.
They should have challenged it on technical grounds and force the government to back down, as the rules were there to do that,
As they have done today.
@Gary Kearney: they were screaming so loud i thought it was budget day
The opposition’s behaviour is simply fascism. The government have a majority. That’s democracy. Get over it.
Badly handled by both Government group and Opposition.
On the one hand, the Opposition are correct – the Independent TDs are supporting the Government, they negotiated as a group, they speak during government time.
However, the Opposition knew the decision was going to be under review and there are plenty of ways to make a visible protest at the appropriate time without turning into a rowdy mob. Surprised at the Labour and Social Democratic parties for joining in, I thought they’d have more class TBH.
Not a particular fan of the Ceann Comhairle’s personal politics but she and her Office were disgracefully treated yesterday and there should be some form of apology in the House from party leaders involved in the disruption.
Certainly not the shouty Shinners attacking our democracy
I’m not on the side of either of them. We elected a shower of clowns, both in government and in the opposition. They have thoroughly embarrassed themselves and brought shame onto this country internationally. We are getting exactly what we deserve as a country for continually choosing absolute planks and expecting them to behave smartly.
Elon Musk .made a Roman salute and not a nazi salute, check the history, sad that this press would not see the difference…
Those voting in favour of the government should be aware they are supporting a dangerous precedence. Whatever this is finally resolved leaves it open for SF to do the same in the future.
Who is this pee wee person?
Do the Journal watch for Troll type account???
All TDs owe the state a day’s pay
Everyone in the Dail is wrong not doing the job as people in normal jobs would get sack if they behaved like that
have your say