Taoiseach election delay ‘farcical’ after Dáil chaos

The election of taoiseach (Irish prime minister) has been delayed after the Dáil (lower house of Irish parliament) was suspended amid chaotic scenes in the chamber.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the delay has been “premeditated, coordinated and a choreographed” position by the opposition and in particular Sinn Féin.

Politicians returned to the house on Wednesday to nominate Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin as the new taoiseach.

However, Sinn Féin and other opposition TDs (MPs) had voiced their anger throughout sittings at plans to allow independents who are supporting the government to join them on opposition benches.

Martin said this is the first time in over 100 years that the Dáil has failed to elect a taoiseach.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said the disruption was utterly farcical describing it as an effort to “obstruct and shout down, to disrespect the Ceann Comhairle (speaker) and the constitutional office”.

Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) Verona Murphy said proceedings would resume on Thursday morning as she was shouted down by opposition TDs.

Discussions had been taking place throughout Wednesday afternoon as parties tried come to an agreement, but these had failed.

As Murphy returned to the chamber at 16:00 local time after a number of suspensions, opposition TDs rose to their feet.

The ceann comhairle then abandoned plans to elect a taoiseach, with proceedings ending with bitter exchanges between TD’s across the chamber.

Speaking outside Parliament buildings, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald claimed the government had “demonstrated incredible arrogance”.

“There has to be a clear understanding of the role of government and opposition, respectively,” she said.

McDonald said the “matter can be resolved, actually, very, very easily. It simply requires honesty and integrity from the government.”

McDonald said she and other opposition party leaders had written to the leaders of the incoming coalition to request a meeting about the issues relating to the status of independent politicians who will support the government.

“What transpired today was farcical, utterly farcical and it was a mess created by government and it is one that can be resolved by the government.”

Analysis: Chris Page, BBC News Ireland Correspondent

The incoming coalition says it’s best placed to prepare for what it calls international “headwinds” in its programme for government.

But it’ll have to face down domestic turbulence before it takes office.

The prospective government and opposition in Dublin are accusing each other of subverting democracy.

It is striking that the opposition parties held a joint news conference outside Leinster House – a potential sign there could be increased co-operation on the left wing of Irish politics during this new five-year parliamentary term.

The centre-right parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, had hoped to send a message by returning to power in the same week that President Trump was sworn in – given that Ireland is thought to be particularly exposed to the effects of any new trade barriers the US could impose.

But the day which was supposed to be focused on ceremony will be remembered instead for acrimony.

The 34th Dáil will see Martin elected as taoiseach for the second time, replacing Fine Gael leader Simon Harris who will return as tánaiste (deputy prime minister).

Fianna Fáil – the largest party – has formed a government with Fine Gael and a range of independent regional TDs after November’s election.

Sinn Féin remain the largest opposition party after winning 39 seats. Fianna Fáil gained 48 seats while Fine Gael was third with 38 seats.

Martin and Harris confirmed the new draft programme for government earlier this month.

The deal paved the way for the next government and was successfully endorsed by both parties in recent days.

Speaking after his party endorsed the programme for government, Martin said there was a “strong commitment” on behalf of his party to deliver for the Irish people.

“I can assure you, we will spare no effort in working selflessly on behalf of the people of Ireland to deliver this programme for government, to make things better for people and to improve the quality of life as we navigate very turbulent global waters,” he said.

Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ruled out Sinn Féin as a coalition partner, which party leader Mary Lou McDonald called “bad practice”.

This is the first time the new government will sat after November’s election, with government negotiations taking around five weeks to complete.

The new Dáil has already been the source of controversy after a number of independent TDs including Michael Lowry, Danny Healy-Rae, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, who support the government, want to form a “technical group” which would allow them speaking time and other rights from the opposition benches.

Another member of the group, Michael Healy-Rae, said they were “perfectly entitled to stand up as part of a technical group and ask questions and to be part of debates”.

He told BBC NI’s Good Morning Ulster programme: “When you support a government it doesn’t mean that you are silenced and you can’t be engaging, that you can’t ask questions, that you can’t ask questions of national and local importance.

“We haven’t changed our minds, but what we are doing is we are rowing in to say we need a stable, secure, sound, solid government for the next five years and we are going to support that because we feel that we will better able to serve our constituents and the country by being within government than outside.”

The new Ceann Comhairle – also a regional independent – Verona Murphy, who is the first woman to hold the role, told TDs she would consider submissions opposing the plan, but permitted the group to “provisionally” take their original seats for now.

All other opposition groups are against the idea, labelling it as having a foot in both camps and taking time away from those who wish to scrutinise the government.

Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh said: “I think it absolutely undermines the integrity of the Dáil.

“The standing orders are very clear in that and we’ve got legal advice and the Labour Party have legal advice as well to say that.

“A technical group is a body of members of the opposition it’s very, very clear.”