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THE DÁIL HAS been suspended twice this afternoon as opposition TDs continued to complain about the time allotted to discuss public sector pay cuts.
Proceedings were suspended for 15 minutes – and then for another 30 – as members from Fianna Fáil and the technical group sought explanations as to why a series of proposed amendments to the pay cuts had been ruled out of order.
As TDs began debating amendments to legislation behind pay cuts for public workers earning over €65,000 a year, Stephen Donnelly said four of his six amendments had been ruled out of order – with little explanation as to why they were considered invalid.
Fianna Fail’s public expenditure spokesman Seán Fleming said of his party’s 20 proposed amendments, 12 had been ruled out of order – meaning only eight could even be put forward for consideration by the Dáil.
52 of the 71 opposition amendments were ruled out of order, leaving TDs with 19 to discuss in the 150 minutes of debating time allowed by the government.
Frustrated at what they saw as government attempts to stifle any criticism of the legislation, the TDs refused to allow business to continue until the dismissal of their proposals was explained.
“This is an absolute disgrace,” Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett repeatedly said, referring to the complaints from the opposition TDs.
“I thought we lived in a democracy. You should be ashamed of yourselves,” he said, while facing Richard Boyd Barrett in the back row of the opposition benches, before the first suspension.
Earlier today independent TD Catherine Murphy was suspended when she complained about how members of the technical group are not permitted to discuss speaking time arrangements during the Dáil’s daily order of business.
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Sean Barrett is an awful Ceann Comhairle. Far too partisan in the Govts favour.
agreed he is awful
Another brash, obnoxious, Blueshirt, bufoon…..they came in handy when “Snake-Oil” Bruton made his push on Kenny in ’10!
Now the likes of “Bully” Hogan, “Dr. Debt” Reilly and “Low-blow” Shatter etc act with impugnity while Inda figure-heads the Blueshirt Boys Club with the air of a lay minister who saw stuff but blocks it out behind a veneer of passive indifference and a misguided sense of place!!
He is Great For FG,Cover their asses big time.
where are we…is this some tinpot dictatorship or what…first we have a justice minister abusing his powers and then we have a totally biased ceann comhairle aiding and abetting the government railroad through stuff in the dail…wake up people…get these fascists out!
Does a democracy mean complaints aren’t dealt with and not everyone can voice their opinion?
Apparently yes it does now ! Make sure you all vote DDI next time !!
It’s embarrassing to think Sean Barrett is Still in a job. He couldn’t control my kids let alone the dail. Biased prat.
So that’ll give them more time in the dail bar at my expense
and drive home with out care in the world! les
Somethin bad is goin down…
Absolutely
Farce!
Ya Shame on then for seeking answers and explanations about why and how the government plans to cut working people’s pay. For shame.
Oh wait???
Remember people cuts to one sector will eventually be replicated on the other sector, the government and business elite work had in had.
Agreed Eric. The Labour Party want to give this the last amount of air time possible. Their TDs are under major pressure on this and the longer it rumbles on with the more questions asked, the better. Their fundamental party values are at stake here! This govt is an absolute disgrace! Barrett’s definition of what contravenes democracy really is laughable, and speaks volumes about FG priorities!
Another example of Enda’s open and changing method of government. What a fool he is.
Another example of the contempt of this government . This is a dictatorship the opposition are not allowed to question and the party whip system is been used to implement dictatorship ideals.
We need to open the debate about additional tax increase rather than purely relying on the public sector to absorb the cost, everyone should share the pain, either way it is stupid as it takes money out of the economy, can’t figure out why the sme want these cuts, it will cost them jobs. Public sector must reduce staff count by 3 % EACH YEAR, no funding otherwise.
I pay enough tax.
sick leave in the public sector cost 550 million a year. if we do away with this system which in fairness is well abused we could save at least half of it.
the leaked bundestag document blamed the ineptitude of the current government to implement real structural reform as the biggest factor in not getting ireland back on track.
they are either lazy or they are not qualified enough and looking at todays debacle im still not sure which one it is myself
Doh ! I’m fairly sure !!!
Vote DDI next time around !!
have your say