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LAST UPDATE | 26 Mar
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 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”.
Yesterday, Lowry was filmed in the Dáil by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy.
Asked if he intends to apologise for using a camera inside the Dáil chambers, which is against the Standing Orders, or rules of the House, Murphy told The Journal:
“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.”
Virgin Media News correspondent Gavan Reilly took a now infamous screenshot of Lowry making the gesture while sitting inside the chamber.
It came following the passing of a motion to create a new speaking slot for government backbenchers and a group of independents.
A number of opposition politicians have accused Lowry of “giving two fingers to the Irish people” in posts shared on social media. Lowry maintained yesterday when contacted by The Journal that he was not giving Murphy two fingers, and instead “was telling him to sit down”.
But that one screenshot dominated the front pages of newspapers around the country this morning.
With reporting by Christina Finn
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Lowry claimed it was a gesture to “sit down” yesterday, today the gesture is “errant”. How long will the public tolerate members of this government lying to their faces?
@Rochelle Hart: It’s obviously not in his dna to ever tell the truth.
@Rochelle Hart: ‘The two fingers were a simple hand gesture, to confirm I will be working twice as hard for the people of Ireland!’
@Rochelle Hart: ‘How long will the public tolerate members of this government lying to their faces?’… circular economy.
He never apologised for losing the country billions over the phone licence scam so will hardly apologise for this
@Shaun Gallagher: He didn’t decide the phone licence alone.
It was a joint cabinet decision, and the “successful” bidder was widely known several days before the official announcement as well as the reason for the decision.
@Shaun Gallagher: True. He broke up the ‘cosy cartels’ though. (Largely in favour of his own monopoly on corruption, it must be emphasised). Still regarded as a beacon of honesty and integrity by the people of Tipperary.
@PhiBo: Ha ha brilliant
Block out all the hyperbolic waffle from the usual trolls for a minute.
Lets not forget that this is all to protect a man whom our now Taoiseach called on to resign in light of the moriarty tribunal. A man who’s actions were described as ” so profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking “. A convicted criminal. Lets not be distracted with the usual trolls and their tea towel jibes about Paul Murphy. The man who did real damage to our country to line his own pockets gave us all the two fingers yesterday. Anyone cheering him on has about as much credibility and as he does.. which is zero.
@Brian: absolutely 100% correct
Lowery the crook
RIP democracy the FFGLOWRY way
Yesterday was the end of democracy we need a election
@Joe Sweeny: absolutely
@Joe Sweeny: Dream on Shinner bot! Five long years……
I suppose middle finger means…stand up…
@sam o brien: Brilliant.
The opposition should walk out in protest Lowry has all the boys in his back pocket that’s politics in Ireland for ye and ye all voted them in so live with it
@Martin Laird: i kind of assumed the yelling was the protest.
When you are above the laws of the state you can do what you like
Bring on election
@Mary Breezer: We just had one
@Mary Breezer: he should be forced out of office with no pension
Is Michael Lowry the best that Tipperary can produce to represent it. Disgusting behaviour
@Big Red Bus: throw in Alan Kelly for good measure!
@Big Red Bus: ah here. Una Healy robbed again.
@Big Red Bus: Tipp are delighted with this… you need to see tha dail as reflection of the people… because they are.
@Big Red Bus: And Mattie McGrath, three of the worst TD’s all from Tipperary!
@Big Red Bus: There’s a good possibility that McGregor and The Monk might run against him in the next election, for lowering the tone of the House.
Shows we never learn ,how is voted back in after this past ,mè feiner
Bloody Kindergarten. Unreal. FFFG totally to blame with their cute hoar shenanigans. Why is that toerag Lowery, still in Politics when he should be in jail. Doesn’t say much for the voters in Tipperary.
So he lied yesterday, only admitting it now because no-one believes his story, hard not to understand that considering his track record
Lowry showing how out of touch he is, everyone uses the wanking gesture these days.
@brian o’leary: Lol
The crony should not be given an opportunity to try explain his way out of this debacle
The last time I looked ,2 fingers means Fcuk off.
The Ceann comhairle was highly embarrassing with her shouts of “ you’re making a holy show “ .. totally inappropriate and amateur.
The government must not be let off with sneaky corrupt governance
Prenty much what all politicans do to us all the irish public and hard working tax payers. A law to themselves white collar gangsters the lot of them. I’ve giving them 2 fingers for years ripping the country off
Lied yesterday. Sack him
If it wasn’t meant to offend why did he do it he needs to resign or sacked
Lowry has had the two fingers up at the Irish tax payers for the last 30 years
Look at the smug face and then believe him.
Its a long way to Tipperary!
Not far enough it seems, given that this disgraced man is elected by that constituency, now showing his low type again.
Show me your friends…..
Out he should go.
Martin is correct in all his points. Lowry should apologise. Murphy shouldn’t be recording in the dáil chamber. SF are happiest when causing drama for their social media channels. The cacophony yesterday was like feeding time in the ape house. There are much, much bigger things to focus on right now. Housing, health and the potential fallout from a tariff war with the US and their plans to hammer our fdi.
Get a grip. Ffs.
@honey badger: most of that is Fair and valid points however they are trying to pull a stroke and correctly the opposition aren’t having it.
@honey badger: how does sf enter this argument.
We have the daftest voter base in Europe
Independents should be ashamed of themselves.
There all giving two fingers at this stage.
He just proved he is a lying dirty low life and how a convicted fraudster is back in government buildings is beyond
Well people you get what you vote for,so If Lowery gave the people two fingers so whet he’ll still get voted in again ,and if mehole and the government lied so what he’ll still top the pole next time our ,were not called the stupid paddys for nothing
He must think we are all fools. He should not be there after the moriarty tribunal findings. Sick that he is and the rest of the politicians for allowing him to be there. He should be gone and no pension. I could say more but I won’t be offensive like him.
The people in north Tipperary who continually vote for that crook must be so proud of themselves.
Tabloid journalism. What about the abuse and bullying handed out by the mob?
@Hotirish: all this carry on from Shouty and the Burger Queen is counterproductive. It’s not going to get this issue sorted out. Regardless of the terms agreed between Lowry and the govt, the govt have to give him his marching orders. This seems like the lesser of two evils to me. Doesn’t seem like a good hill to die on
@Hotirish: If the tabloids engaged in whatabouttery, their articles, like your post, wouldn’t be a great read.
He was completely correct to give the fingers to the radical left
@Rian O’Sullivan: As the famous tennis player John mc Enroe once said. YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS
@Rian O’Sullivan: ironically with his right hand..
@Phillip Smyth: Yes please do kid
@New Boy: YES
@Ciaran: I see your eyes work good news
@Rian O’Sullivan: radical left . You have been watching too much RTE
@Rian O’Sullivan: and to Murphy in particular.
@Phillip Smyth: Thx pet love you too
@BL Music: Nope RTE are pure main stream garbage
@Harry Callahan: He needs to be removed from power very dangerous individual
@Rian O’Sullivan: Murphy needs to be removed from power? Do explain how a democratically elected member of the opposition should be removed from power? Or have you not got that far with ChatGPT yet?
@Rian O’Sullivan: I am of good manners, I never use hand gestures, I never tell lies, but have to ask what good has Lowry done for anyone?
I was in Harcourt street on Saturday and passed four tents with people living in them.
It’s time the government allowed the opposition to hold them to account because it very depressing to witness the hardships some people suffer including the young disabled child in the wheelchair who was used by Finna fail to get votes.
Our opposition love it because it’s what they do best – oppose. They have no real intention of ever being in government, because that involves making real decisions & acting like an adult.
Our government love it because it distracts from the serious life-affecting issues which continue to go unaddressed in this country
If you want to know why people are losing faith in “representative democracy” this carnival sideshow is a prime example
@Gerry Kelly: Well I hate to break your heart but that is their job, to be the opposition.
Listening to the new minster for transport present his work on the radio this morning it’s clear that we’re going nowhere. Some nice ideas about different fuels, blah blah but nothing of any merit… that who our elected officials are, they’re not do’ers by any long stretch of the imagination, they these clowns literally performing like apes, not very inspiring for the future. Starting to look like infrastructure will be the same not only in our lifetimes but our kids too!
Good on Michael Lowry. He’s probably a crook, but a dead corpse would make a better TD than Paul Murphy. Murphy is a Marxist dirtbag who doesn’t even believe in democracy to begin with. It’s pretty laughable for him to whine about democratic checks and balances when PBP seek to undermine them. He cheerleads for Hamas on a regular basis, denied that Bashar Al-Assad gassed him own people with chemical weapons and refused to clap for Volodymyr Zelensky after he thanked Ireland for their support during his speech in the Dáil. Let’s not forget that he encouraged protestors to block Joan Burton from getting out of her car and verbally abused her as well. He’s an embarrassment to Ireland and Lowry responded how any normal person would have. Shame on those who keep voting Murphy back in.
@William Jennings: where has Murphy been ‘cheerleading’ for Hamas?
@Alan: He refused to call Hamas terrorists and instead said that they were a “legitimate group fighting for a good cause.” Was the massacring of 1,200 innocent people on October 7th a “good cause?” He voted against a motion condemning Hamas for acts of terrorism. He literally couldn’t bring himself to say that suicide bombings and school shootings were bad things because he has such a twisted and warped mindset that is fuelled by antisemitism. He then wouldn’t criticise the Jewish man that was spat on and verbally abused while eating dinner last week and instead accused the media of painting the spitter in a “negative light.” This guy is completely off his rocker and lusts for Islamic terrorism because it means that Jewish people will end up dead.
@William Jennings: suspicious.. Lowry is a throwback to Bertie / haughty
@BL Music: As I said above, Michael Lowry is probably a crook. However, he’s night and day better than that clown Paul Murphy. I don’t even know why this is such a big story to begin with. If you start shoving a camera in someone’s face and start insulting them, they’re not going to just sit there with a blank expression and accept it. Murphy did that to Lowry, Lowry showed him the two fingers. He was absolutely right to do so.
@William Jennings: But at the same time you won’t critise the genocide and collective punishment of the people in Gaza. Pot and kettle come to mind.
@Eugene Burns: No, I won’t indulge in the delusions of others. The civilian to combatant ratio in Gaza is 2:1. The global average for conflicts is 4:1. More people were born in Gaza than died last year (63,200 vs 40,000-42,500) and the population has grown by 2%. Israel is let in over 38,200 aid trucks since the start of the conflict, meaning that each person in Gaza has gotten at least 3,250 calories a day, well above the recommended minimum average of 2,500 calories. There is no “genocide” or “collective punishment” going on. Hamas deliberately builds their missile launching sites beside civilian infrastructure like schools/hospitals and forces the people to stay there at gunpoint to boost their propaganda even after Israel drops thousands of leaflets warning people to flee the area.
@William Jennings: that’s some pile of israeli horse manure propaganda there. I’m sure the people of Gaza and West Bank will be very understanding when you present them those figures. Pathetic attempt to justify the mass suffering
@William Jennings: There’s no probably a crook about it, his conviction says it all
@Eugene Burns: Well that’s the truth. I have little sympathy for a group of people that support and condone disgusting acts of terrorism. I have even less sympathy when they play the victim card after realising that they can’t win a war that they decided to start. You’ve offered no coherent rebuttal to any of the points I made. Is that because you know I’m right? Hamas sympathisers like yourself wouldn’t know reality if it punched you in the face. There is zero evidence to back up your nonsensical claims about the Israeli war conduct that come straight from the corridors of the Hamas propaganda HQ in Doha, Qatar. It’s the same old rubbish from the all the Islamist mouthpieces on this news site and it’s so easy to debunk.
@William Jennings: Hamas aren’t a terrorist organisation, the terrorist organisation is called the IDF. Hamas are a direct result of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. This began in 1948, Hamas were formed in 1948. Can I suggest you maybe go and read a book, a browser anything to educate yourself. He is right to call them freedom fighters. Were the IRA not freedom fighters at one stage? Yes they were, England took our land like Israel has taken Palestinian land, they have every right to fight back. Do I agree 100% with their methods absolutely not. But I sure as hell do not agree with Israel’s methods. The hostages Hamas took all spoke of being well looked after, the ones taken by Israel, all were emaciated and clearly had been beaten, so yes please pray tell, who is the terrorist here?
@HAC: Hamas were formed in 1987, I meant to say
@HAC: You said that Hamas was formed in 1948 and then was forced to backtrack on it, this is a basic mistake that only an imbecile would make, further cementing the fact that you don’t have a clue. Who did Israel “take?” All of those people are criminals and terrorists that were arrested. In fact, nearly 90% of all the “Palestinians” in Israeli jails have already been tried and found guilty. Hamas kidnapped people for the crime of being Jewish and dancing. Your cowardice knows no limits. The hostages released required medical attention for malnutrition and many of them women have said that they were sexually assaulted. Hamas literally executed some of them in one of their tunnels for asking for some more food and they strangled two Israeli children to death and paraded their bodies around.
@HAC: This conflict didn’t start in 1948, it started in the 7th century when Islam colonised the Kingdom of Israel and subjugated the Jewish people. You are ignorant of the mindset of Islamists because you’re likely one yourself. Muslims believe that all land that they at one point colonised is still theirs and that the infidels (Christians and Jews) on the land must be removed or exterminated. There is no such thing as “Palestinians”, they are a made-up group of people that were created by the Soviet Union in 1964. They are just ethnic Egyptians and Jordanians who migrated to the Holy Land primarily between 1890-1935 when the borders were completely open between provinces. That’s why they speak Egyptian and Jordanian Arabic dialects and their surnames are of Egyptian and Jordanian origin.
@William Jennings: Comprehensive demographics for Gaza are currently very hard to obtain. The Palestinian Bureau of Statistics references over 45,000 death and only appprox. 13,600 women due to give birth. The 2% figure you give is an estimate. CNN for example reports a 6% population decline. Regarding the 3,250 calories: While this amount has entered Gaza, it doesn’t mean that everyone in Gaza has received and consumed such an amount of calories. This is due to the destruction of infrastructure that hinders proper food storage, cleaning, preparation and cooking of the food provided. The civilian to combatant rate can also be interpreted as an unusual high amount of combatants. If it’s even correct and not another half-truth.
@William Jennings: More BS from you. Definition of ethnicity: “Group of people who share common cultural background or descent.” Not applicable here?
The word Palestine comes from Greek Philistines. “The name refers to the land and the population of the area between Syria and Egypt.” Going back as far the Ottoman Palestine in 1533. (Jewish Virtual Library) But sure Palestinians don’t exist. Btw. I agree with you that Hamas is a terrorist organisation and I agree that Israel has every right to defend itself. But as the only democracy in the Middle East they have to do better than killing women and children.
@William Jennings: lowery a criminal
@Dereck: Exactly, the word was imposed on the region by the Romans after putting down the Bar Kochba Revolt. It was never independent. The Philistines were the enemies of the Kingdom of Israel and the Romans did it as a form of humiliation. The name has been used by the Ottoman Empire, that’s a basic fact, but what I’m saying is that before 1964, there was no distinct group of people known as the “Palestinians.” The KGB under Yuri Andropov (who would later become Premier of the Soviet Union) were concerned that Gamal Nasser of Egypt was not sufficiently loyal. He ordered the creation of a satellite state which would be unquestionably loyal to the Soviets. The KGB recruited Yasser Arafat in Cairo and the rest is history. The “Palestinian” identity was created and the PLO was formed.
@Dereck: Originally, it was the Arabs who despised the label of “Palestine” on the region. In 1925, Jamal Al-Husseini, one of the leaders of the Arabs in the Holy Land, sued the British authorities over the use of the word. He believed that the area should be called Southern Syria and that “Palestine” is a colonialist label that gave legitimacy to the calls of Jewish people to have their own state. In the 1946 Anglo-American Committee, which discussed the future of the Middle East, the Arab representatives argued that a Jewish state should not be created because there was never an entity called “Palestine.” There is no P in Arabic. Therefore, it cannot be said that the word “Palestine” was created spontaneously from a linguistics point of view and by definition, cannot be anti-colonial.
@William Jennings: once again, you show how uneducated you are. I was thinking about the nakba in 1948, I actually do know it was 1987, it’s called a mistake, as if you have never made one. Clearly I know much more than you, because most Palestinians are actually being held without trial. Another thing you could try read a book about. They have not been found guilty. What about the director who was just taken by Israel from no other land, beaten and then put in prison for one night and released. Are you really justifying that? The tunnels where Israel put up the fake calendar? And all the babies they lied about being beheaded. You honestly can’t argue with stupid so no point going back and forth with you. Hopefully some day you’ll educate yourself until then, least you are good for a laugh at how much you haven’t got a clue .
@William Jennings: as for this, so that’s like saying that the UK since they conquered Ireland for so long they have a right to our land? No they don’t. Everyone at some time colonised a place, if you want to back that far, god knows where any of us should be allowed to live. Please if you have no good points don’t bother responding.
@William Jennings: I’m not disputing any of this. Not so much because I agree with your analysis but I simply don’t have the time to fact check. However, the conclusion that there is no such thing as Palestinians simply makes no sense. The people living in Gaza have shared history, culture and traditions. Even if the Russians “invented” the term, it describes the people living there. Simple as.
@HAC: That director, along with three of his friends, were throwing stones at an Israeli shepherd and then other farmhands came to his assistance and fought back against those Arab thugs. The Nakba is a myth. It actually means “disaster” or “catastrophe” in Arabic and originally referred to the collective shame of the Arabs in the region over the fact that the six armies that invaded in 1948 were unable to wipe out Israel. It was then appropriated and hijacked by the “Palestinians” who concocted a grand lie to fit into the their victimhood narrative. It was the Arab armies that told the Arabs in what is now Israel to flee because they didn’t want them to get caught in the crossfire. They were told that the war would be over in a few weeks and they would get to take the Jewish land as well.
@HAC: No Israeli official ever claimed that any babies were beheaded. This is more Hamas disinformation to sow the seeds of doubt into people’s minds. The IDF never said it, Shin Bet never said it and it wasn’t even raised in the Knesset. 88% of all “Palestinians” in Israeli jails have already been given a trial and have been found guilty of a wide variety of violent offences. Are you illiterate or something? You completely missed what I said. Britain doesn’t have a right to claim any Irish land that they once owned, just like Arabs don’t have a right to own Jewish land that they colonised. However, the radical nature of the Quran declares that Muslims must actively strive to reclaim all land that they once held in order to honour Muhammad’s Caliphate. This is the reality of Islam.
Very shameful
Women trying to bully a woman out of her job. The bullies need to be confronted and only another woman can and will do it.
@H Woo: Provisional for a paramilitary that lasted over 30, but you’re clever.
@thomas molloy: Mary Lou needs to go
You can read his lips in the video, clearly says f##k y#o
Fair play RTE and their Sinn fein rooted political journalists out doing themselves David McCullagh and Miriam O C
Allow Mary and Doherty the great shouters to talk uninterrupted a party that has yet to accept it lost any of the last 4 elections
Stop paying these TDs until they act with decorum
@Tim Brennan: Ha ha, classic ignorance
They should all cop the F××k on and get on with dealing with the real issues facing the country instead of behaving like children. Absolute disgrace the lot of them
12.45 The Dail calms down then I look all the Sinn Fein Top brass are gone
@Tim Brennan: SF are a danger to Ireland.
The entire bunch of them act like spoilt kids
If they keep acting like this we should spoil our votes next election
“Tipp to win by two in the league final” predicts Lowry
Looks to me that he’s telling the God’s honest truth. As usual
I dont see too much wrong with Michael Lowry giving the two fingers to a fellow parlemanterian They are giving them to the people of Ireland all the time
Bring back Ballymagash UDC. Frank Hall (RIP) must be laughing his head off wherever he is now. It’s true you can write this stuff.
@PhiBo: Where’s Parnell Mooney when you need him.. lol
I don’t like the guy but I don’t really care if he makes a rude gesture in that moment, the Dail already turned into a shitshow by then, he’s being recorded when he shouldn’t be, it literally doesn’t really matter. I’m still making up my mind on the entire ordeal leaning towards the side of the opposition, but like who caaaaaaares oh my god who cares.
Micki two
Micki two
have your say