Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The journalist of long-standing, Sam Smyth, wrote a really powerful article for The Currency. If Members have not read it, they all should. At the end of that piece, he wrote: "Lowry broke a sacred trust with the Irish people as a government minister, as was repeatedly highlighted by the Moriarty Tribunal." Yet after all this history, Lowry has re-emerged on the political stage as a would-be kingmaker. Mary Lou McDonald read into the record the comments of Michael Lowry to "Tipperary Live" where he boasted that he had singularly negotiated the elevation of Verona Murphy to the position of Ceann Comhairle. Micheál Martin was absolutely determined that the only partner he would have with Fine Gael would be Michael Lowry and his Independents. He was not one bit interested in the talks with the Labour Party or the Social Democrats. He was doggedly determined that it would be Michael Lowry and his team. This is how we got this absolute mess that we are in.

The Ceann Comhairle thanked Michael Lowry for putting her in place but she also read out this declaration. She said: "I will apply the rules as laid down by this House in an impartial and fair manner." Any citizen who watches the video on the Oireachtas website can write down word for word what he or she hears and know what he or she sees. Any citizen looking at the Order of Business that day will see it was rammed through? Clearly, a vote was called. It is crystal clear. The Ceann Comhairle then came back after a suspension and declared that, under Standing Orders, she was scrapping questions on promised legislation and indeed a Bill proposed by a Government TD. She just declared it was going. There was no huge uproar. It was when she said that that the uproar ensued. Just look at the video; it cannot be contested.

However, the most serious part of all is the motion itself - the motion to amend the Standing Orders. It is crystal clear that in her absolute haste to do the Government's bidding, she actually passed an amendment to the motion. I challenge anybody in this House to watch that video, to write down what he or she hears and tell me anything different.

You know that motion was not passed. You know that a wrecking ball was driven through the Standing Orders, all to get your way and to see through the deal by Michael Lowry. I think of Sam Smyth who was brave enough to take on Michael Lowry, with his own livelihood challenged in a court of law. He tells his story. Shame on you for elevating Michael Lowry as a king maker. Shame on you for putting his nomination into the Chair and driving a wrecking ball through our Standing Orders. You know it is wrong. Do not lecturer us on morality when you do that.

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