Gilmore defends spearheading move to secure O’Donoghue’s departure

LABOUR Party leader Eamon Gilmore has defended his push for the resignation of the Ceann Comhairle and rejected accusations the move was a political stunt.

He said the departing Ceann Comhairle, John O’Donoghue, was wrong to suggest justice had been denied.

Mr Gilmore said the Oireachtas Commission, which Mr O’Donoghue had asked to be allowed hear his case, was private and politically in-house.

He said politicians were public servants and could not be protected by policing their affairs behind closed doors.

“The issue surrounding the controversy was a public matter that was being debated on the airwaves and discussed in public.

“When we speak here about our constitutional roles, constitutional fairness and constitutional offices, we should remember one other constitutional function we have.

“That is our primary constitutional function to represent the people who sent us here and to express on the floor of our national parliament, their opinions, their sentiments and their concerns,” he said.

Mr Gilmore was subjected to a stinging attack from Mr O’Donoghue for proposing a motion of no-confidence last week.

The Labour leader said he had earlier afforded the south Kerry deputy every opportunity by suggesting a meeting of leaders before he called for a motion of not confidence.

But to protect the image of the Oireachtas Mr Gilmore said he had no choice but to declare the Ceann Comhairle’s position to be untenable.

“I believe, however, that I had an obligation no matter how unpleasant it may have been and whatever the consequences may have been. I believe I had a duty to do that,” he said.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny did not agree. After proposing his own deputy Dinny McGinley as an alternative speaker Mr Kenny said he would have preferred to see the matter aired at the Oireachtas Commission.

However, he said it subsequently went too far and now all those elected to the Oireachtas had to respond.

Mr Kenny said the office into which the new Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk was arriving should embody this need for change.

“This Dáil is on trial in the court of public opinion. Let the office of Ceann Comhairle be seen to be above politics.

“Let there be no political advisers associated with it. Let there be just an appropriate staff complement to deal with a constitutional officeholder who has no other function in politics merely than to make local representations that may be made to him or her by constituents with a legitimate query,” he said.

Sinn Féin leader Caoimhghín O Caoláin said Mr Kirk was taking up office at a time when great change was needed and he wished him well overseeing this reform.