Calling on Murphy to go, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald suggested that she "is not fair, is not impartial, not independent". 

While all of those assertions are up for debate, what is clear is that the Ceann Comhairle has yet to get to grips with the requirements and responsibilities of the position.

Ms Murphy was not in the chamber to hear yet another round of criticism, instead Fianna Fail's John McGuinness, who himself had ambitions for the prestigious role, presided over the confidence debate.

But she was in the chair just a few hours before when members of the opposition took issue with the suggested order of business for this week, a not uncommon occurrence which generally prompts an unsuccessful Dáil vote.

What was unusual was that in handling the relatively run-of-the-mill situation she again showed she is still not fully versed in the rules of the House.

When Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked to contribute to the debate, he was swiftly shut down.

"Sorry, you are not entitled to speak. I call Deputy Michael Collins," Ms Murphy said.

But unlike the person responsible for ensuring the rules of the Dáil are adhered to, the Sinn Féin TD was fully aware of the standing orders that govern speaking rights.

"No, I am entitled to speak," he told the Ceann Comhairle.

"I am, and the Clerk can confirm. Under Standing Order 35(3), any member may propose an amendment to the motion for the adoption of the arrangements for the week’s business: Provided that .. they provide adequate detail."

With that, Murphy was forced to stop the clock while she sought advice from the clerk.

"We will come back to Deputy Ó Laoghaire when we are finished with Deputy Collins," Murphy said after learning another rule.

Her perceived ineptitude was perhaps part of the reason why the coalition leaders shied away from providing a full-throated support of Ms Murphy, which has always been the usual approach taken by the Government to no-confidence motions.

While Taoiseach Micheál Martin was keen to point out the "mob" antics of the opposition, he failed to put forward any real argument as to why he has confidence in the Ceann Comhairle.

Tánaiste Simon Harris stressed the need to have a "functioning government" and called on everyone to "get on with the work", but he too sidestepped any comment on why Ms Murphy should remain in place.

The closet he came to expressing full confidence in her was to say Fine Gael has "had differences" with the Ceann Comhairle, which have been "well documented" before adding that "we respect her mandate, we respect the difficult job she has to do, this is a democracy".

Ms Murphy clings on after what was a lacklustre debate on her future.

Last week, the tumult reached new levels as the opposition became akin to a baying crowd in their appetite for a scalp.

However, similar to the motion pressed against Helen McEntee in the wake of the 2023 Dublin riots, by the time it came around to speaking on the motion, heads had cooled and at times it felt as though all sides were simply going through the motions.

The palpable anger has petered out for now, but Ms Murphy must get a handle on her position or there will be further trouble ahead.