Taoiseach accused of making ‘disrespectful comments’ to Socialist TDs

The Dáil was adjourned twice yesterday in a heated row after Opposition TDs accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of being disrespectful to them in his replies to questions about water bills.

Mr Kenny had told Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy he should “toddle along” to a meeting yesterday afternoon where Irish Water would “give you the answer to any questions that you want to ask”.

The Taoiseach earlier accused him of thinking he was like Julius Caesar, and when Socialist Party TD Ruth Coppinger asked what was the point of leaders' questions, Mr Kenny replied: "It's to tell you where to go."

At that point Opposition TDs protested and called for the Taoiseach to withdraw his “disrespectful comments”.

There were repeated unsuccessful calls for TDs to resume their seats before Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett suspended the House twice, for 10 minutes each time.

Mr Murphy had asked the Taoiseach how many water bills had been paid out of the one million bills issued in the first quarterly charge.

He claimed 592,000 bills had passed their pay-by date and asked what the rate was of payment and non-payment. He accused the Government of a “dishonest plan” in its proposed legislation on attachment orders to frighten people into paying their water bills.

Powers

He claimed Irish Water could not be given powers to take payment from people’s wages or social welfare payments, because they were not the Revenue Commissioners. Mr Murphy said the company would have to go to court to seek payment.

Mr Kenny said Irish Water would answer all Mr Murphy’s questions. However, Mr Murphy said the Taoiseach was “not shy in boasting about puffed up and bloated Irish Water registration figures” when Irish Water were responsible for them.

Mr Kenny then accused the Dublin South West TD of thinking he was like “Julius Caesar and that you can dictate whatever you want to do yourself. I am not going to spoon-feed you, Deputy Murphy,” he said, suggesting he “toddle along” to the regular briefing of TDs by Irish Water where all his questions would be answered.

When Mr Kenny told Ms Coppinger the point of leaders’ questions was “to tell you where to go”, Independent TD Róisín Shortall said the Taoiseach had “brought the House into disrepute” with his comment. She said the Ceann Comhairle should ask him to withdraw it.

Intervention

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin then intervened, that the Taoiseach should withdraw the remark that the purpose of leaders’ questions was to tell the Deputy where to go.

Mr Kenny responded: “Yes, I said the Deputy can go to the audio-visual room at 4pm to hear Irish Water.”

Mr Barrett repeatedly asked Ms Coppinger and Ms Shortall to resume their seats and then adjourned the House for 10 minutes. On its resumption Ms Shortall intervened and again asked the Ceann Comhairle to request Mr Kenny to withdraw his “disrespectful remarks”.

Mr Barrett again asked her to resume her seat without success and then suspended the sitting for a further 10 minutes.