The Dáil chamber was the scene for what connoisseurs of Gaelic games call "a shemozzle" yesterday as a battle of wills was played out between newly-elected Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue and rambunctious Fine Gael backbencher Michael Ring, writes Deaglán de Bréadún, Political Correspondent.
The Mayo TD resembled a naughty schoolboy testing the mettle of a new teacher in the early days of term and, as O'Donoghue's political nickname, "The Bull", would suggest, limitless patience is not one of the new Ceann Comhairle's many attributes.
The rumble began when the Taoiseach proposed Labour's Brendan Howlin for Leas-Cheann Comhairle or deputy chair, a move that infuriated Fine Gael who wanted to propose their own man, Padraic McCormack.
Party leader Enda Kenny had previously written to Mr Ahern to say the job should go to a Fine Gael deputy but got short shrift from the Taoiseach who replied that Howlin was the man. "We got no say right, left or centre," a disgruntled Fine Gael source told The Irish Timeslast night. "Bertie Ahern ran roughshod over us." When Mr Kenny sought to propose Mr McCormack as an alternative to Mr Howlin, the Chair ruled it out of order on the ground that he had not received any advance notice.
"Be seated while the Chair is standing!" the new Ceann Comhairle repeated endlessly.
That was when Deputy Ring tossed his verbal grenade into the proceedings, accusing the Chair of making up the rules as he went along. "You will withdraw that," an increasingly excited Mr O'Donoghue instructed him.
"I won't withdraw it," was Ring's unsubtle response. The Ceann Comhairle told him to leave the House. A shouting match ensued. "You can put me out but I won't leave the House," said the Mayo rebel. "I'm elected to this House. I'm elected, I'm not selected like you." It took two 10-minute suspensions of the proceedings before Michael Ring finally bent the knee. He and his Fine Gael colleagues felt the Chair was more lenient with Sinn Féin's Arthur Morgan who was also told to leave but took his own sweet time over it.
Behind-the-scenes negotiations resulted in the Ceann Comhairle informing the House that it was "my function to be fair to every single member of the House". No special treatment for the Shinners was the subtext. Then Ring and Morgan both took their medicine and walked out.
This one could run and run. Fine Gael is still feeling sore towards the Taoiseach and the Ceann Comhairle.
Dáil Report: page 8