Ming-Barrett row 'just political banter', says Doherty

Sinn Féin's finance spokesperson has described a row between the Ceann Comhairle and Independent TD Luke Ming Flanagan as "political banter".

Deputy Flanagan hit out at Sean Barrett's Dáil chairmanship in a newspaper article earlier this week.

The Irish Independent reported that he (Flanagan) accused the Ceann Comhairle of being “biased” and “guzzling pints” with TDs in the Dáil bar.

The Labour Party Chief Whip Emmet Stagg has said the comments were out of order.

Deputy Flanagn, and fello independent TD John Halligan had previously also protested that a vote had not been taken on the Personal Insolvency Bill.

However, Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said the row is all just part of the day-to-day running of Leinster House.

"I've been accused across the chamber of different things where the Ceann Comhairle didn’t intervene, and I'm sure I've accused others as well," he said.

"It's a bit of the political banter that takes place in Leinster House (though) I wasn't privy to the conversation itself."