Fianna Fáil Party Whip Seán Ó Fearghaíl has condemned Sinn Fein members’ sit-in in the Dáil chamber. The Dáil was suspended for almost four hours after Mary Lou McDonald refused to leave the Chamber, despite a motion to have her ejected being carried. It has now been closed until next Tuesday.
Deputy Ó Fearghaíl commented, “Sinn Fein clearly had an agenda coming into today’s sitting to adopt a disruptive approach in the Chamber in order to distract from recent negative coverage. While I don’t believe Deputy McDonald should have been ordered from the house, and Fianna Fáil voted against the motion to have her expelled, the vote was lost and her expulsion was passed.
“As a Republican, I respect the democratic will of Dáil Eireann and I expect all other members of the House to afford the institution that same respect. As a result of Sinn Fein’s flawed PR initiative the important business of the Dáil is being needlessly obstructed. This ridiculous time wasting exercise served no purpose and brings politics into further disrepute”.