Dáil rumpus - Acting like clowns while crisis grows

There was uproar in the Dáil yesterday as Finance Minister Brian Lenihan appeared to be stalling on an opposition demand for a debate on the recent report of the International Monetary Fund on the state of the Irish economy.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party threatened to withdraw cooperation unless there was a formal debate on the report before the Dáil breaks for holidays in July.

There was so much shouting and roaring that a 10-minute recess was called in order to allow tempers to cool. When the Dáil reconvened, Mr Lenihan announced the report could be discussed next week.