Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I listened with incredulity earlier to the arch-propagandist, arch-revisionist Mary Lou McDonald alleging a co-ordinated and concerted plan by the Government to silence the Opposition.

Anyone looking in over the course of the past ten weeks would know that the only co-ordinated and concerted plan was the Opposition's plan. This was led by Sinn Féin. I note with some degree of disappointment and sorrow that it was aided and abetted by the Labour Party. That party was led by the nose in these debates to continue to disrupt, attack and undermine the workings of Dáil Éireann. This did not just begin last week. It has been Sinn Féin's approach since before the election and after it lost the election. It declared publicly that there would be opposition at all costs. We have seen what that means.

On 22 January, Sinn Féin Members elected by their constituents to discharge their democratic mandate and constitutional duty to elect a Taoiseach obstructed us from electing a Taoiseach. This happened for the first time in 106 years, despite all of the challenges this State has faced since its foundation. God knows many of those challenges were brought about by members of that party over the decades. Since 22 January, the party has continued in that vein. This has not been about speaking rights. Let us be honest about it; this has been about populism and about Sinn Féin hoping and praying to capitalise on a political opportunity. However, the reality is that this country faces major challenges both internationally and domestically.

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