Anger as Dáil members leave Dublin
Opposition parties today tried to vote down a week-long St Patrick’s Day break for members of the Dáil.
The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and several ministers will be attending parades abroad on March 17 to promote business and tourism.
Amid heated exchanges, opposition TDs claimed members of the Government should be in the Dáil to pass emergency legislation on gun crime.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: “Donna Cleary was murdered in the suburbs of this city. Anarchy rules in parts of Dublin. Clearly there is a need for very strong legislation for the gun culture.”
The Mayo TD said that emergency legislation was introduced for immigration, nursing home charges and ground rents but the Government wouldn’t act on the 20 sections of the Criminal Justice Bill relating to gun crimes.
“Those of you who will be away all over the world will be far removed from the anarchy on the streets of this city,” he said.
“We had drunkenness and disorder on the streets of Dublin for St Patrick’s Day in recent years. We had riots in this city just a fortnight ago.
“The danger out there in communities is palpable. The Government has failed to protect people in their streets and now in their homes.”
Justice Minister Michael McDowell interjected and claimed Mr Kenny’s party had objected to mandatory minimum sentences when previously proposed in the Dáil.
The minister added: “You’re convincing nobody and you’re are making a fool of yourself and should sit down.”
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said Government members who were forgetting about political donations may also forget where the Dáil is if they take a break.
“We’re being asked to turn St Patrick’s Day into St Patrick’s Week here, which is quite unique for most people in this country who expect next Friday to be the day for the holiday,” he said.
“It is completely unacceptable. With the levels of amnesia in government benches, there is every likelihood that the government will forget about where the Dáil is if they’re off for a week.
“This is where the work gets done and this is where people should be attending.”
Fine Gael TD Michael Ring shouted at the Government benches: “We should be sitting Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Don’t mind Cheltenham and don’t mind America. You should be here.”
Tánaiste Mary Harney, who was representing the Government during the Order of Business, said: “It has been a long tradition that members of the Government joined Irish groups and Irish associations in various parts of the world around our national feast day to help promote business and tourism for this country. That has been highly successful for many years.”
She reiterated that Mr McDowell will be bringing forward legislation on gun crimes within the next fortnight.
A vote for the break was later carried by 59 votes to 39.
