FF senators accused of filibustering by FG colleagues during debate 

Fine Gael senator Mary Seery Kearney said that 'policing and security is being obstructed by Government members'.

The Seanad was adjourned on Wednesday amid accusations that Fianna Fáil senators were "filibustering".

The upper house was debating the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, seen as a landmark piece of legislation around the governance of policing. 

Some within Fianna Fáil have expressed reservations about proposed new community policing partnerships which will replace joint policing committees (JPCs) but which will have limited input from councillors in the legislation currently. 

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has raised this issue with Justice Minister Helen McEntee, who was in the Seanad for the debate.

Fine Gael senators took issue with what Mary Seery Kearney called "obscene" filibustering by Fianna Fáil senators, who were accused of attempting to avoid a vote on section 106 of the bill, which puts in place the new partnerships. 

One senator said that Fianna Fáil had "marched up the hill" on the issue of representation for councillors and was now not able to back down.

When the scheduled end of the debate came, Fine Gael senators asked for an extension, but Seanad leader Lisa Chambers was not in chamber to give the go-ahead.

A number of senators had signalled a willingness to sit until midnight to get through the amendments. 

John McGahon said the Fianna Fáil strategy was "so well choreographed, it's like watching 'Swan Lake'". He accused Fianna Fáil of "running the debate out".

'Panto season'

Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer said that the reaction from his party colleagues was like "panto season" and a "Punch and Judy show". 

Ms Seery Kearney said that "policing and security is being obstructed by Government members".

Mr Buttimer told senators he would "give them all a copy of the standing orders" of the house for Christmas.

After the debate, Fine Gael senator Barry Ward accused Fianna Fáil of "cowardice", tweeting: "Very disappointed by cowardice of @fiannafailparty senators in the Committee Stage debate on the Policing, Security & Community Safety Bill 2023. Filibustering to avoid voting on an issue is not legislating; it is unnecessarily holding up important legislation and wasting time."