You cannot on one hand stand up and make the case for the value of the rules of this House and at the same time attempt to shout them down.

Sentiment score: -0.06

You cannot do that. You cannot on one hand talk about the value of the procedures of this House but be involved in heckling those who seek to implement them. You cannot talk about respect for the office of the Ceann Comhairle but at the same time look to abuse her and the way she has performed her functions. Finally, you cannot make the case for the importance of the orderly functioning of democracy and attempt on two different occasions to disrupt that orderly functioning in the way this country has not seen and in the way this House has not seen. That is at the heart of the fundamental inconsistency of the Opposition today. On one hand, it stands up and talks about the value of order and the value of procedure but at the same time it is the same Opposition members who have taken to their feet on two different occasions, in a way that is without precedent in the history of this Dáil, to disrupt its behaviour. You cannot do both at once.

Sentiment score: 0.01

You cannot ride both horses together.

Sentiment score: 0.00

I noted what Deputy McDonald said earlier on, and again this is the behaviour. The same people who are only too happy to heckle and disrupt this House are the same people who stand up and make charges against this Government. Earlier on, Deputy McDonald said the Government, or indeed the Ceann Comhairle, was involved in behaviour to tear democracy apart. Really?

Sentiment score: 0.10

When you see the behaviour taking place elsewhere in the world that has that affect-----

Sentiment score: 0.00

-----how can you talk about the behaviour in the House in a way that is consistent with that? Deputy McDonald alleged the Ceann Comhairle demolished the rules of this House. Really?

Sentiment score: 0.00

How can you substantiate that? Perhaps, most chillingly-----

Sentiment score: 0.00

-----Deputy McDonald went on to say that the Ceann Comhairle's position is untenable-----

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-----and the outcome of the vote does not change that. I do not happen to agree with Deputy Murphy too often but in his brief appearance earlier he put the question that there is more to democracy than majority rule and he is, of course, correct. A vital element of all of that is respect for rules, adherence to rules and adherence to them even when you might not agree.

Sentiment score: 0.12

That is the bedrock upon which constitutional democracy in our State should function and while there are issues we will debate over time, to stand over here, to contest there is behaviour under way where the Ceann Comhairle has not been impartial-----

Sentiment score: 0.00

-----does a disservice to the traditions that have served this State well.

Sentiment score: 0.27