Verona Murphy refuses to step down as opposition leaders publish no-confidence motion

The five opposition leaders — Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald, Labour's Ivana Bacik, Cian O’Callaghan of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett and Independent Ireland's Michael Collins — have sponsored the motion and it will likely be debated and voted on early next week.

Opposition TDs “made life impossible” for Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy in deliberate Dáil disruptions, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

“The attitude of the opposition to the Ceann Comhairle in the Dail this week has been quite simply extraordinary,” Mr Martin said.

“By any objective assessment they made life impossible for the Ceann Comhairle.” Mr Martin said that, despite calls from Sinn Féin that Ms Murphy had not followed procedures, the Clerk of the Dáil confirmed that proceedings were done in line with formalities.

The Taoiseach added that this was a “deliberate strategy” from Sinn Féin.

“They didn’t want to participate in proceedings at all. They didn’t want to facilitate a legitimate vote on new standing orders for this Dail.

“It was undemocratic what Sinn Fein and other members of the opposition did. The Dail cannot work on opposition by veto.” Mr Martin added that there cannot be a situation where the Ceann Comhairle only remains in office if “it obeys the diktat of opposition”.

“Sinn Fein cannot blame the Ceann Comhairle for their own extraordinary behaviour, which was on display for everyone to witness,” Mr Martin said, adding that they are working in bad faith.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Helen McEntee told Fine Gael TDs that the opposition had attempted to shut down the Government.

She told a meeting of her parliamentary party that any motion of no confidence in Ms Murphy would be countered by a motion of confidence by the Government.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, Ms Murphy said she fully intends to continue to carry out the role to which she was elected in December.

She said the speaking rights issue has been "a significant and divisive issue", and her office has tried in good faith to find a compromise between the two sides without success.

"I have loyally, scrupulously, and impartially adhered to my solemn undertakings made to the House, and through the House to the Irish people," Ms Murphy said.

Following accusations of collusion with the Government ahead of the vote taken to change standing orders on Tuesday, Ms Murphy said: "I categorically reject these totally unfounded allegations.

"I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present." The "false accusations of partiality and collusion" are utterly unacceptable, the Ceann Comhairle said.

"By virtue of the independence of the office of Ceann Comhairle, I am in the unenviable position that I cannot descend at will into debate to defend myself against the entirely false allegations of collusion made against me in the Dáil today," said Ms Murphy.

Referring to the chaotic scenes in the Dáil on Tuesday, she added that prolonged disorder and obstruction is considered unacceptable in any democratic parliament.

Ms Murphy called on "every member of the House to reflect on and abide by their own constitutional obligations, to refrain from disorder, and to respect the rights and dignity of every other member and of the House itself".

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty had earlier raised a query over the legality of legislation debated on Wednesday, questioning whether the order of business had been properly voted on when the Dáil sat on Tuesday.

He urged Ms Murphy to review official records and clarify the legal standing of any laws passed under the new arrangements.

"You clearly put the question [regarding the order of business]. The chief whip agreed the question. You declared the question carried and there was a clear call for a vote," Mr Doherty said, suggesting Ms Murphy had failed in her duty to ensure a proper division took place.

"I question now whether you have failed to fulfil your independent and impartial duty to allow that division to take place, which is clearly now on the Oireachtas website and the word 'vótáil' stands out. Therefore, what is the legal basis for legislation that may be passed in this house later on today?"

Ms Murphy agreed to review transcripts before further proceedings.

As a result, a letter from the Clerk of the Dáil, Peter Finnegan, has been published which found the Ceann Comhairle acted in accordance with standing orders.

Regarding the issue of the order of business, Mr Finnegan wrote that the official report of the debate and the Clerk's sheet "both confirm that the word 'vótáil' was not audible in the Chamber when you put the question on the Order of Business.

"The declaration of the result by you [the Ceann Comhairle] was therefore fully in accordance with standing orders."

In his general observations, Mr Finnegan said: "Yesterday's proceedings were extraordinarily difficult for the Chair and indeed for all the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service who support the work of the Dáil Chamber."

"The operation of the Dáil is only possible if members accept the Chair's authority and rulings."

Dáil plunged into chaos 

Earlier, there was a second day of disruption over new speaking time rules, which opposition TDs claim were pushed through unfairly with Government backing.

Ms McDonald led calls for Ms Murphy to “reflect on her position very carefully” and insisted that she “must go.” 

Other opposition figures, including Social Democrats deputy leader Mr O’Callaghan and Ms Bacik, echoed these sentiments, stating that Ms Murphy had compromised her impartiality by siding with the Government.

Ms McDonald accused Ms Murphy of bulldozing parliamentary rules to ensure the Government’s controversial speaking time changes passed, calling her actions “demonstrably partisan.” 

She warned that the opposition would move a motion of no confidence if Ms Murphy does not step down voluntarily.

"By your actions, you have demonstrated that you are not. Your position is, therefor,e untenable. So I ask you to reflect very carefully on this because you need to go," she said.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin dismissed opposition claims of a coordinated Government effort to force through the speaking time changes, calling the new rules a “reasonable, balanced solution.” 

He described the scenes in the Dáil chamber on Tuesday as “shouting, intimidatory behaviour and naked aggression,” arguing that parliamentary procedure cannot be dictated by opposition dissatisfaction.

"What I have witnessed over the last while is a very deliberate attempt to undermine the rights of certain independents," the Taoiseach said.

"There are other independents need to be facilitated as well and that was part of what was meant to be the facilitation of non-aligned TDs."

Mr Martin also rebuffed allegations that the Government had made a secret deal with independent TD Michael Lowry, whose controversial gesture in the chamber sparked further outrage.

He acknowledged that Mr Lowry’s action was inappropriate but also criticised Solidarity-PBP TD Paul Murphy for filming the incident, which is against Dáil rules.

"Do you not remember what Deputy Paul Murphy did to your former leader, Joan Burton? Do you not remember that these are your new allies?" Mr Martin asked Ms Bacik, referring to an incident during a protest over water charges in 2015.

"What Deputy Murphy did yesterday, waving phones around, is unacceptable behaviour in this chamber," he said.

Ms Bacik accused the Government of breaking an agreement made in January regarding speaking rights, arguing that the changes undermine democratic accountability.

"Instead of honouring that agreement, you arrogantly ploughed on. You undermined basic standards of parliamentary accountability," she told the Taoiseach.

People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger said the Government’s justification for the changes—granting speaking rights to independent TDs — was misleading, as government-aligned TDs already had regular access to ministers.

Mr O’Callaghan further alleged that the Government’s motivations were to secure the support of Mr Lowry and his allies, asking: “Why are you jumping through hoops for Michael Lowry?”