Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy survives motion of confidence 

The opposition had brought the motion following last week's passage of new Dáil speaking time rules. 

The Opposition has claimed that Ms Murphy did not adhere to Dáil procedures, in a manner that favoured the Government. 

Ms Murphy did not chair the debate on the motion, with Leas Ceann Comhairle John McGuinness taking the chair.

During her speech, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Ceann Comhairle "must go" as she is "not fair, not impartial and not independent". 

She said that Ms Murphy had been "given a fair wind" by Sinn Féin but that Ms Murphy had become "the Government's Ceann Comhairle". 

Her party's chief whip Padraig Mac Lochlainn later said that the Government had "elevated Michael Lowry as a kingmaker", while Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane said that last week's votes had been "rushed" and that this was "not the role of the Ceann Comhairle".

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said that Ms Murphy's deeming of the Order of Business passed last Tuesday was done "without a legitimate democratic basis" and that "with regret" her party believes Ms Murphy's position is no longer tenable. 

She said that while the Government "will win the vote, the opposition has won the argument". Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said that the Government had ensured the "re-establishment of Michael Lowry". 

He said that the office of Ceann Comhairle had been politicised by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in doing a deal with Mr Lowry around the appointment of Ms Murphy.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said that the Government's attitude of "we won, you lost" was not in keeping with the Dáil's rules and that Ms Murphy had not adhered to those rules. 

He said that the coalition was a "right-wing government without a mudguard" which would be defeated by "street politics". 

In his contribution, Taoiseach Micheál Martin accused the opposition of "mob politics", though he never named Ms Murphy in his speech.

"The opposition is trying to manufacture a claim that it was actually the Ceann Comháirle who behaved inappropriately. That she is the person in this House who should be attacked.

"The arsonists are demanding that we censure the fire brigade. And let no one be in any doubt, there is not one bit of good faith in the arguments we have been hearing from Sinn Fein and the parts of the opposition which have joined them in their aggression and disruption."

Tánaiste Simon Harris accused the opposition of "a bitter and aggressive cacophony" against Oireachtas staff. 

He said that because the opposition had not won last week's vote, “they came for the Ceann Comhairle’s head. This is straight out of a populist playbook.”

Government Chief Whip Mary Butler said that the motion was a "populist stunt" and accused the opposition of "permanent outrage", while Energy Minister Darragh O'Brien said that the opposition was trying to create a controversy "to capitalise on". 

He said that "Sinn Féin has always been about Sinn Féin".

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan called for the establishment of Oireachtas committees, saying that he needs opposition spokespersons to "hold him to account".

The motion of confidence was carried by 96 to 71, with two abstentions from Aontú.

Speaking after the debate, Ms Murphy said that she "bears no ill will" and that her "door is always open".

Speaking to a handful of TDs who had remained in the chamber, Ms Murphy said that she had worked to "vindicate the rights of all members and administer the rules for all members of this house impartially and fairly, alongside the independent, loyal and hard-working staff of my office and this house without fear or favour".