Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Were this vote to succeed this evening and the Ceann Comhairle to lose the confidence of the House, a new Ceann Comhairle would have to be elected. We all have to ask ourselves, had anyone else sat in that Chair last Tuesday, would it have been different? It would not, because what happened was definitely orchestrated, organised and determined.

The criticisms that are being made of the Ceann Comhairle and how she managed the Standing Orders are being made in the context of this atmosphere in the Chamber where everybody is listening regardless of whether we disagree. That certainly was not present last Tuesday. It was impossible to hear. It was impossible because it was orchestrated - shouting and roaring by a minority of Deputies, but vocally very loud.

I have had five Ceann Comhairles and six Leas-Cheann Comhairles, Deputy McGuinness included, and every time there have been disagreements between Government and Opposition and the Ceann Comhairle or Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the day. There has never been a Dáil where the Ceann Comhairle or Leas-Cheann Comhairle has not been criticised for how he or she interpreted the rules or Standing Orders, but never before has it been because the decision did not go the way of the Government or the way of the Opposition in line with how either side dictates it should be and has had to bring a motion of no confidence.

Deputy Murphy did her best to bring order and to continue Dáil business last Tuesday. She was faced with a barrage of noise. She has been criticised today for not using the Standing Orders, but the point is being lost that those Standing Orders are the scaffolding around a foundation of respect, decorum and order. That foundation was gone last Tuesday. When people take the foundation away, it is very difficult to start looking for the Standing Orders to be used to suit their argument. We have to move on. We have to proceed with the business of this Dáil and this Oireachtas. There is work to be done.

It has been lost that we did exactly that last Wednesday and Thursday night, when we had very good debates on two Bills for which I am accountable, with ideas flowing over and back across the Chamber for further discussion. The Dáil showed it can move on and get its work done. Let us get on with that work.

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