Dáil soap opera farce more toytown than tense

As the Sinn Féin sit-in wore on the atmosphere in the Dáil chamber became slightly surreal — though it was always more toytown than tense.

In what had more than the whiff of stunt politics about it, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald complained — as usual — that Tánaiste Joan Burton had not properly answered her questions on the penalties for water charge non-payment, and the Ceann Comhairle — as usual — over-reacted and ordered her out.

Ms McDonald was in no mood to budge, and the chamber was clearly not big enough for both of them, so the Ceann Comhairle walked out, leaving the disgruntled deputy in position — precisely the opposite of what he had intended.