Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has stated that Aontú will abstain from the vote of Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. An Teachta Tóibín started:
“We live in a democracy. The functioning of the Dáil is key to the fair delivery of that democracy. Both the government and elements of the opposition have mired the Dáil in dysfunction in recent weeks.
“The government has bullied a new hybrid speaking system into the Dáil. In an unprecedented move the government has created three designations, two of which support the government. The government have a majority within the Dáil and now they want a majority of the designations also. Incredibly the government chief whip will control who asks them the questions in the new ‘Others’ designation. This new process will also see a fall in opportunities for the opposition to hold the government to account. Aontú has called for the government to stop and participate in mediation to resolve the crisis. They have refused”.
“Aontú believe that the display which took place in the Dáil last week was disgraceful. Grown adults in opposition literally shouting in gangs at the top of their voices to drown out the democratic functions of the Dáil. I was present in the chamber for that display. Opposition TDs who talk about dignity at work and misogyny were roaring at the top of their voices in unison with the sole aim of stopping the first female Ceann Comhairle from doing her job. It was embarrassing – the Dáil reduced to an international laughing stock”.
“There is no doubt that Verona Murphy made mistakes on that day. But the people complaining of those mistakes are the people who made the working environment impossible last Tuesday. The opposition could in part prevent the government plan. The opposition could accept Mattie McGrath, Carol Nolan and Eoin Hayes into their groups. This would bring the Lowry group to below 5 members and mean that they no longer have speaking rights even under the new regime. This would not solve the whole problem as the government back benchers would still take the new designation’s speaking time. But it would scupper the government’s plan of giving speaking time to Lowry’s group”.
“We need to get work done. For months now the government and opposition by their behaviour have held the Dáil to ransom – they have prevented the passage of legislation, the formation of Dáil committees and the real work which we have to do. The speaking rights row has dominated everything”.
“It is absolutely incredible that the Dáil bubble is so inward looking. In the real-world Ireland fasces, its biggest existential economic crisis in two decades. Yet the looming tariff crisis has hardly appeared on the Dáil agenda, eclipsed by the Dáil speaking row. People are sick of real world issues like the crisis in health, the disaster in terms of housing, the cost of living crisis and the government’s chaotic immigration policies playing 2nd fiddle to the Dáil bubble”.
“We believe Verona Murphy was wrong procedurally in how she handled votes and Dáil business last week. But we are not willing to vote no confidence in her – because we don’t think it was possible for any TD to function in that chair while the entire opposition except Aontú was shouting and screaming at her. To vote yes or no, supports either the shocking behaviour of the government and much of the opposition. Aontú has grown to date because we have shown the ability to think for ourselves. Aontú will remain steadfastly in opposition to this government on the substantive issues affecting the people. But we will also do the right thing”.
