Taoiseach wants ‘review’ of Leaders’ Questions interruptions

The Taoiseach has called for a review into interruptions during his speaking time during Leaders’ Questions.

Interjections, heckling and other intrusions on speaking time are a regular feature of Leaders’ Questions in the Dail, which is regarded as one of the main opportunities for opposition politicians to hold Government figures to account.

However, Taoiseach Micheal Martin told the chamber on Tuesday he is “not going to come in here” and listen to their questions if he is not going to be allowed to reply.

While responding to a question from Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein leader interrupted Mr Martin with a criticism of Government policy.

He replied: “You’re interrupting again, deputy, I’ve had enough of that now. I have the floor now.”

He added: “You have a tactic all the time of interrupting every time I get to my feet and make a point.”

Mr Martin, who maintained he does not interrupt other contributions, continued to respond to the query on nursing home regulation before Ms McDonald interjected again.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy noted the interruption from the Sinn Fein leader but also told the Taoiseach his time to answer had concluded.

Mr Martin indicated he wanted to continue his remarks but Ms Murphy told him: “I understand but Taoiseach it’s not your fault and it is certainly not [the fault] of other members of the House.”

The Taoiseach said: “How long is this going to continue?”

Ms Murphy replied: “This is the problem Taoiseach.”

He said he was now not in a position to answer or get his point across “because of this constant heckling”.

He added: “I ask you, through the chair, given what has happened and what has happened the last number of weeks: I want a review of how this is happening.

“Because I’m not going to come in here listen to everybody and give them the courtesy of listening and not being allowed to reply – that’s fundamentally wrong.

“It needs an intervention from you, Ceann Comhairle, and the whips and chief whips as well to sort this out.”

Ms Murphy said: “My intervention is they have a timeframe.

“There is a timeframe for which you can provide the answer.

“If they choose not to listen Taoiseach, it’s kind of pointless asking the question.

Amid further interruptions, she added: “And I think the reality is that everybody – everybody deputies – should be afforded the opportunity, as you were by your colleagues, to ask the question.”

Ms McDonald said she expects answers to her questions, to which Ms Murphy told her: “I’m speaking deputy, so I would expect that you stop speaking when I speak and what I’m asking is that everybody afford each other the same level of respect.”