Dáil debates

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (Resumed)

 

The following motion was moved by the Minister for Justice on Wednesday, 23 June 2021:

Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:

- (Deputy Catherine Murphy)

8:27 pm

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the amendment in the name of Deputy Catherine Murphy to the motion regarding the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998. On Wednesday, 23 June 2021, on the question, "That the amendment to the motion be agreed to", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 80(2), that division must be taken now.

Amendment put:

The Dáil divided: Tá, 21; Níl, 77; Staon, 8.


Tellers: Tá, Deputies Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall; Níl, Deputies Brendan Griffin and Jack Chambers.

Mick Barry, Richard Boyd Barrett, Seán Canney, Joan Collins, Gary Gannon, Marian Harkin, Michael Healy-Rae, Brendan Howlin, Alan Kelly, Gino Kenny, Catherine Murphy, Paul Murphy, Gerald Nash, Cian O'Callaghan, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Thomas Pringle, Matt Shanahan, Róisín Shortall, Bríd Smith, Duncan Smith, Jennifer Whitmore.

Níl

Cathal Berry, James Browne, Richard Bruton, Colm Burke, Peter Burke, Mary Butler, Thomas Byrne, Jackie Cahill, Dara Calleary, Ciarán Cannon, Joe Carey, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Jack Chambers, Niall Collins, Patrick Costello, Simon Coveney, Barry Cowen, Michael Creed, Cathal Crowe, Cormac Devlin, Alan Dillon, Stephen Donnelly, Paschal Donohoe, Francis Noel Duffy, Bernard Durkan, Damien English, Alan Farrell, Frank Feighan, Joe Flaherty, Charles Flanagan, Seán Fleming, Norma Foley, Brendan Griffin, Simon Harris, Seán Haughey, Martin Heydon, Emer Higgins, Neasa Hourigan, Heather Humphreys, Paul Kehoe, John Lahart, James Lawless, Brian Leddin, Marc MacSharry, Catherine Martin, Steven Matthews, Paul McAuliffe, Charlie McConalogue, Michael McGrath, Joe McHugh, Aindrias Moynihan, Michael Moynihan, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Verona Murphy, Hildegarde Naughton, Malcolm Noonan, Darragh O'Brien, Joe O'Brien, Jim O'Callaghan, James O'Connor, Willie O'Dea, Kieran O'Donnell, Patrick O'Donovan, Fergus O'Dowd, Roderic O'Gorman, Christopher O'Sullivan, Pádraig O'Sullivan, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, Éamon Ó Cuív, John Paul Phelan, Anne Rabbitte, Neale Richmond, Michael Ring, Brendan Smith, Niamh Smyth, Ossian Smyth, Robert Troy.

Staon

Pat Buckley, Seán Crowe, Paul Donnelly, Dessie Ellis, Johnny Guirke, Johnny Mythen, Patricia Ryan, Brian Stanley.

Amendment declared lost.

8:37 pm

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Can I call for a walk-through vote?

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are in the middle of a vote but, besides that, a walk-through vote cannot be called when the difference is greater than ten. It is not allowed under Standing Orders. Is í an cheist ag an bpointe seo ná-----

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to point out that the Sinn Féin party abstained on that last vote.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have to show a little respect for the process.

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wonder why the Sinn Féin party has left the building. Is there a fire we do not know about?

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is abusing the process and I say that very reluctantly. We are in the middle of a vote here. I ask for the Deputy's co-operation.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to know why Sinn Féin Members have left the building rather than come in and carry out their democratic duty in the national Parliament on a matter as serious as this.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Fleming is the second Deputy-----

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

They have left the building. This must be highlighted. They have abandoned the national Parliament in favour of their own political agenda. This must be highlighted.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is one of the rare occasions on which I have risen to my feet. We are in the middle of a vote. I will hear no more. I am now on my feet. I am going to sit down. Points of order may not be made in the middle of a vote.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am now proceeding with the vote.

Question put: "That the motion be agreed to."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 87; Níl, 7; Staon, 5.


Tellers: Tá, Deputies Brendan Griffin and Jack Chambers; Níl, Deputies Paul Murphy and Thomas Pringle.

Cathal Berry, James Browne, Richard Bruton, Colm Burke, Peter Burke, Mary Butler, Thomas Byrne, Jackie Cahill, Dara Calleary, Seán Canney, Ciarán Cannon, Joe Carey, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Jack Chambers, Niall Collins, Patrick Costello, Simon Coveney, Barry Cowen, Michael Creed, Cathal Crowe, Cormac Devlin, Alan Dillon, Stephen Donnelly, Paschal Donohoe, Francis Noel Duffy, Bernard Durkan, Damien English, Alan Farrell, Frank Feighan, Peter Fitzpatrick, Joe Flaherty, Charles Flanagan, Seán Fleming, Norma Foley, Brendan Griffin, Marian Harkin, Simon Harris, Seán Haughey, Michael Healy-Rae, Martin Heydon, Emer Higgins, Neasa Hourigan, Brendan Howlin, Heather Humphreys, Paul Kehoe, Alan Kelly, John Lahart, James Lawless, Brian Leddin, Marc MacSharry, Catherine Martin, Steven Matthews, Paul McAuliffe, Charlie McConalogue, Michael McGrath, Joe McHugh, Aindrias Moynihan, Michael Moynihan, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Verona Murphy, Gerald Nash, Hildegarde Naughton, Malcolm Noonan, Darragh O'Brien, Joe O'Brien, Jim O'Callaghan, James O'Connor, Willie O'Dea, Kieran O'Donnell, Patrick O'Donovan, Fergus O'Dowd, Roderic O'Gorman, Christopher O'Sullivan, Pádraig O'Sullivan, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, Éamon Ó Cuív, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, John Paul Phelan, Anne Rabbitte, Neale Richmond, Michael Ring, Matt Shanahan, Brendan Smith, Duncan Smith, Niamh Smyth, Ossian Smyth, Robert Troy.

Níl

Mick Barry, Richard Boyd Barrett, Joan Collins, Gino Kenny, Paul Murphy, Thomas Pringle, Bríd Smith.

Staon

Gary Gannon, Catherine Murphy, Cian O'Callaghan, Róisín Shortall, Jennifer Whitmore.

Question declared carried.