The attitude of the opposition to the Ceann Comhairle in the Dáil this week has been quite simply extraordinary.
By any objective assessment they made life impossible for the Ceann Comhairle.
It beggars belief that Sinn Féin in particular, who shouted and roared during Leaders Questions yesterday in a clearly organised manner, and who refused point blank to cooperate, are now accusing the Ceann Comhairle of bias and failing to follow procedures.
The Clerk of the Dáil has confirmed proceedings were conducted in accordance with procedures.
It was Sinn Féin who refused to move their own amendment to the standing orders.
It was Sinn Féin who screamed and roared while the Ceann Comhairle called for a vote, rather than moving their own amendment.
It was a deliberate strategy. They didn’t want to participate in proceedings at all. They didn’t want to facilitate a legitimate vote on new standing orders for this Dáil.
It was undemocratic what Sinn Féin and other members of the opposition did.
The Dáil cannot work on opposition by veto.
Neither can we have a situation where the Ceann Comhairle only stays in office if it obeys the diktat of opposition. It is not how parliamentary democracy works.
Sinn Féin cannot blame the Ceann Comhairle for their own extraordinary behaviour, which was on display for everyone to witness.
Let’s be clear, Sinn Féin don’t want a deal - they want to dictate to the majority.
They continue to show bad faith, moving from a demand that the opposition lose no time, to a demand that no government TDs can speak in these time slots.
No matter what we do, they agree nothing.
In 106 years of democracy in Ireland the opposition has never refused to let Dáil business proceed. That’s the politics of the street.
Given the enormous issues facing the country, with the prospect of a trade and tariff war, challenges in housing, disability and much more, the responsibility is on all parties to focus on what matters to people.
Government remains focused on this task and will not be diverted away from these key issues.
Ends