Irish MPs erupted in fury today as its Parliament was reduced to chaos by heckling and shouting.
Earlier this afternoon, the Irish Government won a Dáil vote to make an amendment to increase speaking rights for its own party’s backbenchers - leaving opposition politicians up in arms.
In an attempt to control the commotion, Dáil Speaker Verona Murphy reprimanded the raving representatives and told them that their behaviour was “an absolute disgrace”.
The Dáil was adjourned for the remainder of the day after the chaotic scenes unfolded in the lower chamber.
For more than two months, the Irish parliament has set the scene for an ever-growing squabble over speaking rights
Oireachtas
For more than two months, the Irish Parliament set the scene for an ever-growing squabble over speaking rights.
Four members of a Government-backing independent grouping called for more time in the chamber to be allocated to their speaking time.
Martin's Government later drafted plans to appease its backbench MPs who raised the issue.
The executive also claimed that the proposal will benefit other backbenchers, allowing them to raise issues with the executive on behalf of local constituents.
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However, opposition members have railed against the move, plunging the parliament into utter chaos.
Earlier today, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald questioned the Taoiseach, mentioning one of the independent representatives who called for the amendment.
She asked the Taoiseach: “What does Michael Lowry have over you?”
Defending the decision, Martin said: “It basically means we’re talking about once a year that a backbench TD may get that opportunity to speak in other questions.
Opposition parties heckled Taoiseach Micheal Martin every time he spoke
PA
“And for all of that, the opposition have manufactured a political row.”
Murphy also told opposition MPs: "You are making an absolute holy show of yourselves."
Opposition parties previously said that the change to speaking rights was “another cynical attempt to manipulate speaking time in order to grant special privileges to [MPs] who were part of negotiating the programme for government and clearly and unambiguously support the Government”.
Labour, Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Independent Ireland were also infuriated by the decision.
