Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I profoundly disagree with the political motivation behind the motion. The Opposition charges us with being tired, divided and arrogant. Is it not ironic that the main proposer of the motion, Deputy Rabbitte, has left on the record of the House the charge that the Ceann Comhairle is congenitally incapable of being fair? It was not enough that he had charged the Ceann Comhairle with being unfair. He had to bring his family into it and make a wildly unfair allegation. Having made this unfair charge, he steadfastly refused to withdraw it, never mind apologise for it. When it comes to arrogance, we on the Government side are only in the ha'penny place compared to Deputy Rabbitte.

See this speech in context