Barrett accosted by protesting deputies as Dáil wraps up

MIRIAM LORD'S WEEK:DEPUTIES LURCHED over the finish line on Thursday afternoon after a bad-tempered end to a long Dáil session.

The House was buzzing on the last day with talk of the angry confrontation between Ming Flanagan and the Ceann Comhairle the previous night, when the Roscommon deputy loudly harangued Seán Barrett in a corridor.

TDs Joan Collins and John Halligan were also involved, although witnesses say that Flanagan was by far the most vehement protester. “He lost the plot,” said one bystander.

The fallout from Wednesday night’s clash continued yesterday, with Waterford TD Halligan threatening to take legal action if Oireachtas authorities did not withdraw their allegation that he subjected the Ceann Comhairle to “a vicious unprovoked verbal assault”.

The incident drew a blistering response from an emergency meeting of the Dáil’s Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

On Thursday, the clerk of the Dáil wrote to Halligan and Flanagan about their conduct at the close of business on Wednesday, following a formal complaint by Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe.

“The Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett was subject to a vicious unprovoked verbal assault arising out of the fact that a vote had not been taken at the end of the second stage of the Personal Insolvency Bill,” writes the clerk, Kieran Coughlan.

“From first-hand reports, the committee is satisfied that your behaviour must be dealt with. The committee unanimously formed the view that a serious verbal assault of this kind is unacceptable at any time and the fact it was perpetrated by members of the House within the precincts of the House and directed at the Ceann Comhairle – a constitutional office holder – is appalling and is unprecedented and must be condemned.” The committee has requested the two deputies to make a full apology on the floor of the House when the Dáil returns on September 18th.

But John Halligan is outraged at the content of the letter. “Under no circumstances will I accept that I was part of a vicious and unprovoked assault,” he says, adding that he is seeking legal advice and will got to court if this “allegation of a very serious offence” is not withdrawn by September 18th.

While he accepts he may have broken procedures, he stresses, “I was honest and straightforward in my dealings and was in no way offensive or disrespectful.”

At the time of the incident, Halligan says he told the Ceann Comhairle it was unfair that no vote was called. “The Ceann Comhairle pointed his finger at me and I told him not to point his finger at me. That was all. I didn’t get involved any more than that.” A number of TDs from the technical group were furious when the Bill was agreed without a vote, arguing they weren’t given a chance to challenge it.

When the Bill was passed, the Dáil chamber rapidly cleared but a number of members of the technical group refused to leave for a number of minutes as a mark of protest.

Some subsequently attempted to buttonhole the Ceann Comhairle.

A lot of people witnessed the confrontation, which took place in a busy public area adjacent to the Members’ bar and a door leading into the Dáil chamber. As the House had just risen, a lot of deputies were milling about.

The Ceann Comhairle was followed by some members of the technical group who were clearly angry.

An Opposition Senator, who says he was walking alongside Barrett at the time, takes up the story. “Ming came flying up, shouting and pointing his finger at Seán. He was saying stuff like: ‘You’re a disgrace, you’re a disgrace . . . you’re no Ceann Comhairle . . . you’re the worst Ceann Comhairle ever.’

“ I could see Seán got a terrible fright, but he held his decorum and made no comment,” he added.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in this place. As Seán continued walking, Ming kept at him. He was very agitated. He looked like Michael Flatley in full flight.”

The TDs reportedly followed the Ceann Comhairle out into the ministerial car park, keeping up the barrage.

Earlier, they had refused to leave the Dáil chamber after the House rose for the night – Mick Wallace and Clare Daly were among the small group refusing to budge.

They sat in the empty chamber – the other person present was a Dáil usher, whose job was to put the cover on the national flag behind the Ceann Comhairle’s chair and then lock the chamber doors.

When they were asked to leave, Ming Flanagan declared they wanted to protest and they were going to protest.

But that plan was quickly abandoned because the monitors were turned off and nobody knew they were there.

If was after this that the incandescent Flanagan launched his tirade against Seán Barrett.

Meanwhile, Finian McGrath, the chairman of the technical group, is said to be “absolutely furious about the carry on” while his colleague, Shane Ross, was among the TDs and Senators who witnessed the display.