Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In return for support in good times and bad the Ceann Comhairle was appointed from among the ranks of Independent TDs led by Deputy Lowry and other goodies were bestowed on his followers, including junior Ministries, deputy Whip responsibilities, goodies for particular constituencies and an open door with Ministers. It is entirely regrettable that the office of the Ceann Comhairle has been used as a bargaining chip in these Government formation negotiations. Indeed, the quid pro quo regarding the Ceann Comhairle was sealed with Michael Lowry and voted on in this House at the same time as the Government was purporting to speak with the Labour Party and others in opposition about possible Government formation. It was a joke and that made it abundantly clear to us that the Government had no genuine intention of anything other than doing a deal with Michael Lowry.

As we all know, the State has spent vast sums investigating the corrupt dealings of the Ceann Comhairle's political patron. He has received a mandate - we do not dispute that - but that mandate does not whitewash his past or mean that we can or should ignore the Moriarty tribunal finding that he engaged in profound corruption to a degree nothing short of breathtaking. Nor should we ignore his resignation in disgrace as a Minister and member of Fine Gael; or ignore the all-party, uncontested motion passed by this House that he is not fit for office and should resign as a TD. Nor should we ignore the words of the Taoiseach, with whom he has negotiated this grubby deal, that Michael Lowry is an insidious and pervasive influence who engaged in a cynical and venal abuse of office. This is someone who has had to enter into tax settlements with the Revenue regarding businesses he runs; and someone who has engaged in SLAPP - strategic litigation against public participation - seeking to use his wealth to silence dissenting voices through the courts when they call him out on his corruption.

What does this say to the Irish public? It says, "Hey kids, don't worry, you can do what you want. Be as corrupt and as unaccountable as you want. Engage in tax fraud. Brazen it out for a few years. Deny, deny, deny. Never apologise. Never engage in any self-reflection, and God help us, don't even consider any self-improvement." It means you can waltz back into power and control of this country aided and abetted by a Government and other Independent politicians who clearly do not give a damn about corruption and standards in politics. They will welcome you back into the fold under the guise of political pragmatism.

It is not lost on us that today is April Fools' Day, nor that yesterday saw the beginnings of a worldwide far right campaign to say Marine Le Pen should suffer no consequences for the finding of corruption against her. This Government is trying to take the Irish public for fools but the public sees through this political stroke. Rehabilitating Michael Lowry and ignoring the very serious findings against him is an act of choice by this Government and follows the grim line of denial of accountability internationally.

We in the Labour Party and across the Opposition are righteously angry at the Government's grubby deal with Michael Lowry that saw the Ceann Comhairle appointed and logic turned on its head by Government-supporting TDs being allowed to pretend to be in

opposition so they can perform on social media. The deal demeans this House and our body politic. It demeans and undermines the office and independence of the Ceann Comhairle. The naked politicisation of the role of Ceann Comhairle leads those of us in opposition, naturally, to suspect the Ceann Comhairle will act in a partisan manner to support the Government in order to support her own position. We gave the Ceann Comhairle the benefit of the doubt from the start, but the manner in which the business of this House-----

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