Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins in heated exchange after Dáil upheaval
Mattie McGrath deemed Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins a 'traitor'. Picture: Larry Cummins
Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath has said the leader of Independent Ireland is a second traitor named Michael Collins from West Cork in a heated exchange which saw both men separated by a Leinster House official.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, came after tense scenes in the Dáil as the Government pushed through controversial changes to the speaking rights rules.
When Mr McGrath left the chamber on Tuesday, he had a heated exchange with Mr Collins which required a Dáil usher to get between the two men.
Multiple sources in Leinster House said Mr McGrath compared Mr Collins to Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, describing both as traitors from West Cork.
Asked by the if he referred to Mr Collins as a traitor, Mr McGrath confirmed that he did.
He said: “That’s what he is”.
In response, Mr Collins said that he had not been able to understand what Mr McGrath had said during their interaction.
“I knew that he had said something aggressive,” Mr Collins said.
He called on Mr McGrath to clarify his statement, while accusing him of turning his back on the public by “going into bed with Michael Lowry”.
“I told him to clear off up to [Mr Lowry],” Mr Collins said.
“I don’t know what he means by that traitor remark.
"He’s turned his back on the people and that’s what a traitor is.”
Michael Lowry's Regional Independent group backed the programme for government which has led to the speaking rights row.
While some members of the regional group of Independents received junior ministerial positions and Verona Murphy was appointed ceann comhairle, those who remained on the backbenchers indicated that they would be supporting the Government from the opposition.
The move to form a technical group by Michael Lowry, Danny Healy-Rae, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole to facilitate this sparked anger and mayhem in the Dáil, with opposition parties uniting to claim that TDs who played a critical role in drafting the programme for government couldn't then effectively try to be in opposition.
The speaking rights issue has led to considerable upheaval in the Dáil in the last two days, amid opposition protests over the reform to chamber rules that will provide new question slots for Government backbenchers and the Regional Independent group.
It saw the Dáil suspended early on Tuesday, after the vote passed to adopt the new rules. The opposition has now moved to introduce a motion of no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy over her handling of the Dáil yesterday.
