New Leas-Cheann Comhairle reminds TDs not to 'misbehave'

The new Dáil deputy chairman John McGuinness makes an apparent swipe at the Taoiseach in the wake of the 'bréaga' imbroglio

The new Leas-Cheann Comhairle, John McGuinness, is congratulated on Wednesday by the only other candidate for the post, Aengus Ó Snodaigh. Both had previously run for the Ceann Comhairle's job but were defeated by Verona Murphy. Picture: Maxwell’s  

Newly elected Leas-Cheann Comhairle John McGuinness has used his address in the Dáil chamber to remind members to respect one another and not "misbehave" in an apparent swipe at the Taoiseach.

Fianna Fáil's John McGuinness emerged victorious following a secret ballot — defeating Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh by 96 votes to 66.

The pair, who both ran for Ceann Comhairle in December but who ultimately lost out to Verona Murphy, were the only two put forward for the role. 

In his speech ahead of the vote, Mr McGuinness took aim at his party leader, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, over his use of the Irish language in an exchange with Mary Lou McDonald.

Mr Martin had said the Sinn Féin leader was “ag insint bréaga arís” or "telling lies again" which would be considered unparliamentary language.

Newly-elected Leas-Cheann Comhairle John McGuinness is congratulated by Clerk of the Dáil Peter Finnegan after his election on Wednesday. Picture: Maxwell’s  

"To be respectful to everyone, if you do say something in Irish in the middle of a heated debate, it might be no harm if you repeated it in English thereafter," said Mr McGuinness, which prompted laughter within the chamber. 

"It might avoid a lot of work on committees and debate in this house," he concluded, referencing the row, which is being referred to a Dáil committee after Mr Martin declined to apologise for his remark.

Mr Martin has been accused of taking advantage of the fact that Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy does not have Irish and was unable to adjudicate on the matter at the time. That Ms Murphy is not an Irish speaker is something that was raised during the election but on this occasion, Mr McGuinness said "there is no embarrassment about not being able to speak the Irish language fluently".

In his own speech, which was largely in Irish, Mr Ó Snodaigh emphasised the need for a Chair who can "monitor and, if necessary, step in and apply the rules and protections of this House equally to everyone".

He continued: "That might not mean much to many here who operate exclusively in English but I ask them to put themselves in my shoes" and those of other Gaeilgeoirí TDs. The Sinn Féin TD also harked back to another talking point in the election of the Ceann Comhairle, reminding members that it is a secret ballot.

"It is not in the gift of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste or any political party leader of group leader," Mr Ó Snodaigh said. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were advised by their leaders to vote for Ms Murphy in an effort to win the support of the Rural Independent Group in Government.