Ceann Comhairle asks Taoiseach to review ‘lies’ remark in Dáil debate

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has asked Taoiseach Micheál Martin to review his ‘lies’ comment made to Mary Lou McDonald

Taoiseach Micheal Martin arriving for a Cabinet meeting at Parliament Buildings, Dublin. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Housing. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin asking him to review comments he made to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald in the Dáil.

Speaking in Irish, Micheál Martin hit out at Mary Lou McDonald for “telling lies again”, stating that the opposition leader was “ag insint bréaga arís” on the topic of housing — a term which is considered to be unparliamentary language.

There were heated exchanges followed by confusion from the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy in the Dáil when Ms McDonald asked that Mr Martin withdraw the accusation.

However, Ms Murphy was unable to fully adjudicate on the matter as she is not an Irish speaker.

Ms McDonald later wrote to the Ceann Comhairle asking that the comments be reviewed.

In a letter sent this afternoon, Ms Murphy said that she would ask the Taoiseach to review his comments in light of the Rulings of the Chair, the guidebook used to set the rules of Dáil debates, which prohibits calling another deputy a liar or accuse them of telling lies.

The letter reads: "As you will be aware shortly after the Taoiseach made his remarks, the matter was raised as a point of order by Deputy [Pearse] Doherty. In the heat of debate in the Dáil chamber, it may sometimes be necessary to review remarks after the event when the transcript is available. 

"As I stated in the chamber, I did not hear the remarks myself, however following Deputy Doherty's intervention, I raised the matter with the Taoiseach in the chamber and said I would review the transcript at a later point.

"I have now had the opportunity to review the transcript which I enclose and in view of the remarks made by the Taoiseach, I will copy this letter to him along with a copy of the transcript requesting that the Taoiseachreview his remarks in the context of the rulings of the chair on parliamentary debate."

Ms McDonald's letter accuses the Taoiseach of making “a baseless accusation that I was ‘telling lies’... I absolutely refute that this was the case.” 

She said that she had “rightly” challenged Mr Martin and asked Ms Murphy to request that the matter is formally followed up and that the Taoiseach withdraw his remark in the Dáil at the earliest opportunity.