TDs distracted by absent Independents during debate on taoiseach

Fine Gael TD Noel Rock nominated Enda Kenny for the fourth time as Taoiseach in the Dáil, as talks continued behind the scenes on Friday to secure the support of Independents for a minority government.

TDs were distracted as the speeches on Mr Kenny’s nomination were made by party and group leaders. They were repeatedly checking their phones and whispering as the absence of the Independent Alliance TDs raised concerns about whether they would be in place before a vote was called.

Just before the end of more than two hours of debate, Independent Alliance TDs arrived into the chamber, with Dublin Bay North’s Finian McGrath smiling and playing air guitar in a gesture to the Government benches.

Mr Rock said Ireland needed a taoiseach to match the challenges ahead, to master opportunities, to “harness the great capabilities of this parliament and a taoiseach who will always put the country first. Deputy Enda Kenny is all of these things and he should be our next taoiseach.”

‘Turning point

’ Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said, “today potentially represents – I use the word ‘potentially’ noting the absence of the Independent Alliance, but that may change in the coming minutes – a major turning point for Irish democracy”.

He said it marked a “decisive shift away from a government with absolute power to control our parliament”.

The election was an overwhelming rejection of the last government and that was why Fianna Fáil had sought to lead a new government, he said. However, on three occasions no party or Independents supported that.

Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams said if Mr Martin followed the logic of his speech, he should vote against Mr Kenny as taoiseach. He said the government agreement was a “masterclass in bluster and waffle”. Never was so much negotiated for so long “for so little”.

Outgoing tánaiste Joan Burton said the Labour Party would be voting against the nomination of Mr Kenny.

She described the agreement with Fianna Fáil as “tawdry” and said the new Government was “a coalition of convenience that puts naked political self-interest ahead of the people’s interests”.

She too noted the absentees and said the Ceann Comhairle might have to call a break “to allow people address their phones properly and find out what exactly is going on”.

Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Ruth Coppinger said there would be a collective groan in every livingroom in the country. "It is not personal, Taoiseach, but 75 per cent of people did not want you returned as Taoiseach and they did not want Fine Gael in a position of power. Yet that is about to happen."

Riding two horses

Addressing Fianna Fáil, she said: “If you think you can ride two horses of supporting this government and leading the opposition, think again.”

Fianna Fáil would be implicated in the politics of this administration.

And she asked what was the point of voting for an Independent, when they were going to “prop up a Government either for personal advancement or for a pet project in their own area”.

Independents 4 Change TD Clare Daly also hit out at Independents. "As a result of people who claim to be independent and Fianna Fáil, the Taoiseach will get his hands back on the reins," she said.

“Today is the birthday of Robespierre, the famous French revolutionary who challenged the system and fought the old order. The Taoiseach is certainly not him but I remind the Taoiseach that he ended up on the guillotine, and I think that might yet happen.”