Opposition work themselves into a rage in much ado about 'nothing'

DÁIL SKETCH:THE DÁIL was asked to adopt a report that would change the rules of standing orders, or how the Dáil operates. It was a "report of nothing" but nobody knew what "nothing" was and 10 minutes of argument followed before the report was withdrawn, most people remaining none the wiser about its contents.

It turns out the report was about Green Party TD Paul Gogarty’s outburst at Labour’s Emmet Stagg when he told him: “Fuck you deputy Stagg, fuck you”, and how such incidents should be dealt with in future.

But during yesterday’s order of business the Opposition did not know what the report was about. So they became irate, first with the Government and then with each other.

And the Government side – all five of them in attendance – sat in bemused amusement as Opposition deputies worked themselves up into an outraged mass of indignation.

It turned out TDs had not read the Dáil order paper, which lists what’s scheduled for the day’s Dáil business and gives notice of new business.

The report was prepared by the committee on procedure and privileges. It had in fact been laid before the Oireachtas two days earlier, which meant any member could read it. Funnily enough, nobody mentioned the content of the report but they talked rather obliquely about it. Its conclusions, it is safe to say, are a toothless wonder.

The victim of the verbal assault, Emmet Stagg, described it as a “report of nothing”. There was “nothing in this report worth talking about except an attempt to stifle debate in the House”.

The Labour whip was “unsure of its value” but wanted a debate about it when the changes in standing orders were being made.

Ceann Comhairle Séamus Kirk clarified that they would be able to implement the standing order from next week.

Fine Gael’s David Stanton asked politely if they could debate the order before it was implemented.

When the Ceann Comhairle told him it was a “matter for the whips” Labour’s Michael D Higgins got angry. He said every TD wanted to “improve the credibility of the parliamentary process” and many had made submissions about Dáil reform and the issue should be deferred.

Michael Ring shouted that “we have had enough people making decisions concerning us that we know nothing about, but the media blames us for them”.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, who sat quietly through it all, agreed to defer the report for further discussion.

Fine Gael’s Seán Barrett a member of the committee that prepared the report , wanted to “put people’s concerns to rest”. It arose “from an incident in the House” and the committee was asked to determine how to deal with such matters in future.

Michael D remained irate. “Our position is that any changes in the House should be discussed by all of us,” he said imperiously.