Social Democrat TD claims fishing representative called her 'anti-Irish' and 'pro refugee'

Jennifer Whitmore said she wanted the matter aired because ​M​r Murphy ​h​ad — she claimed — raised matters 'on a public forum'. File photo: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos

A row broke out at an Oireachtas committee this morning over remarks ​alleged to have been made on ​a female TD's Facebook page ​b​efore Christmas.

Wicklow Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore ​c​laimed the comments ​were made on her page​ by a fishing industry representative who was one of a number of witnesses attending the Oireachtas committee, of which she is a member.

She claimed the comments were left on her page by Patrick Murphy, the CEO of the Cork-based South and West Fish Producer’s Organisation (ISWFPO).

He was attending, along with other fishing representatives, a debate at the Oireachtas Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

At the end of her questioning of various ​other witnesses, Ms Whitmore turned to Mr Murphy, who was there also representing the Seafood Ireland Alliance, and asked if his Facebook page was a personal one.

She then brought up comments she claimed he made on her Facebook page before Christmas. ​She claimed that in those comments he called her “anti-democratic”, “anti-Irish” and “pro refugee”.

​Despite an appeal by the committee chairman Connor McGuinness to leave the issue, she ​pressed on, saying she was just trying to “get some understanding” if ​​the Facebook page ​from which she claimed Mr Murphy made comments on her page, was representative of the view of ISWFPO members and were they aware of what she claimed were his comments.

Patrick Murphy said he was being 'personally attacked'​ and offered to 'take this off air'. File photo: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

She was repeatedly told by Connor McGuinness to restrict her line of questioning.

Mr Murphy himself, who said he was being “personally attacked”​ by her, offered to “take this off air”.

But Ms Whitmore said she wanted the matter aired because ​M​r Murphy ​h​ad — she claimed — raised matters “on a public forum”.

​The two repeatedly spoke over each other as Mr McGuinness tried repeatedly to get them to stop talking, and calling each of them "out of order".

The conversation​ was ​eventually ​shut down with both Ms Whitmore and Mr Murphy ​b​eing ruled out of order​ again by Mr McGuinness before he brought the meeting back to the discussion about MPAs.