Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----and the attack on the Ceann Comhairle are very much part of a pattern where extreme parties have sought to undermine public faith in the idea that anything can be achieved. The one consistent message from every country is to stand firmly against this behaviour. If it is accepted as normal, it will be destructive of parliamentary democracy.

This Dáil is still in its relatively early stages. Our ability to fulfil our mandate is at stake. Let me be very clear on behalf of my party and on that of the majority of Deputies. We will not stay silent as others try to intimidate this House and its chairperson. They will not succeed in imposing rule by minority. They will not block the democratic business of this House, roaring and chanting and then blaming everyone else for their behaviour.

In the 106 years of Dáil Éireann, issues of dramatically higher importance than the changes implemented last week have been dealt with without collapsing Dáil business and without a cynical attempt to blame the Ceann Comhairle for preplanned and co-ordinated disruption. Each of us who has received the great personal honour of being elected to serve the people in this place has an obligation to leave the tactics of disruption and aggression outside. This applies to the Opposition as much as those who support the Government, particularly as they have greater opportunities to speak and ask questions than is found elsewhere in the democratic world.

Our country is facing enormous threats, threats which may be felt in every community and household - tariffs, housing, disability and so forth. We simply do not have time to waste on cynical strategies of aggression and disruption.

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