Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett has called an emergency meeting of the Dail’s Committee on Procedure and Privileges (CPP) today following an incident in which a TD presented a glass of dirty water to a Minister of State in the chamber.
Independent TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim Luke "Ming'' Flanagan described the quality of the water in his constituency as "glorified piss'' and produced a glass of dirty water during the debate on the Water Services (No 2) Bill . The Bill paves the way for the introduction of water metering.
Mr Flanagan then walked across the chamber and placed the glass on the bench where Minister of State for the Environment Fergus O'Dowd, who is presiding over the debate on the Government's behalf, was sitting. Mr Flanagan then left the chamber. Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy was chairing the proceedings at the time.
When Mr Barrett later took the Chair for Opposition leaders' questions, he said Mr Flanagan's actions were an "act of vandalism['', adding that he had had never seen such behaviour.
“A member walking down and handing a glass of dirty water to a Minister...That is just outrageous and unacceptable behaviour and I have asked for an immediate meeting of the CPP to deal with this matter,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, the House was adjourned briefly following a heated row over the guillotining of the Bill, which is scheduled to pass all stages by this afternoon.
Defending the guillotine, Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn, who was taking the Order of Business, said there had been an 18-hour debate on the legislation in the Seanad and further debate in the Dáil. "This legislation has to be enacted in this calendar year to implement the legislative measures in 2014,'' he added.
The Dail will adjourn later today for the Christmas recess until Wednesday, January 15th.
