The Ceann Comhairle has accused the Labour Party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, of making an "unprecedented and unprovoked attack" on him yesterday morning that "undermined" the role of the Chair of Dáil Eireann.
He said that if it was left unchallenged it would cast "doubt" on the integrity of the Ceann Comhairle's role now and in the future.
"As experienced parliamentarians we all accept that from time to time in the heat of the moment robust remarks will be made. However the tenor of the deputy's remarks represent a marked departure from what would be considered an acceptable standard of behaviour," Mr O'Hanlon said.
"The remarks represent an unprecedented and unprovoked attack on the chair and would not be tolerated in a parliamentary democracy of any standing," the Ceann Comhairle continued.
He said that if the comments made by Mr Rabbitte, who said Mr O'Hanlon was "congenitally incapable" of being fair, were left unchallenged "the position of the Chair would be severely undermined.
Before proceeding with the normal order of business he concluded his personal statement with the warning that "any repeat of the attack will not be tolerated".
This morning, Mr Rabbitte said he stood by his actions. He said he bore Dr O'Hanlon "no personal ill will" but "professionally it is almost impossible to do our business in terms of the restrictive way that he closes down on the Opposition".
Speaking on RTÉ radio, he added: "The Ceann Comhairle is not equivalent to an air traffic controller who intervenes to stave off an accident. When the Government is at risk that is the time that you will find the Opposition being restricted and quite frankly I've had enough of it."
At the launch of a Labour Party campaign in Dublin, Mr Rabbitte said the comments this morning disposed of the matter, but did not dispose of the issue of "parliamentary accountability". Mr Rabbitte said there had been "several experiences" of the Taoiseach and Ministers coming into the Dáil and "refusing to give reasonable answers to reasonable questions.
"I don't think that's acceptable conduct in Dáil Eireann. I hope the point has been made. I don't want to go back on the issue with the Ceann Comhairle - I bear the man no personal malice at all, but I hope that it is clear that from now on we want the Government to respond in a reasonable way to reasonable questions."
Yesterday's row erupted while questioning the Minister for Agriculture, who was standing in for the Taoiseach, Mr Rabbitte, called on Mr Walsh to say how decentralisation could be reconciled with the proposed closure of some Garda stations.
There was uproar when Mr Walsh, in response, said Garda strength was at an all-time high but concentrated on the issue of decentralisation in his answer. He said if Mr Rabbitte had any specific questions he should submit a Dáil question on the matter.
The Ceann Comhairle then said Mr Rabbitte was only entitled to one question. However, Mr Rabbitte said he had only asked one question on Garda stations and did not get any answer.
Mr Rabbitte then said Dr O'Hanlon was "the most partisan chair" he had ever seen in the Dáil.
The Dáil was suspended and upon return Mr Rabbitte refused to withdraw his remarks and left the House instead.
The Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, said this morning that he thought Mr Rabbitte "is going to have to apologise".
"I am astounded and saddened at his attitude. . . . It was unfair and out of order for Pat to attack the Ceann Comhairle in the manner in which he has. I think that the Ceann Comhairle will probably insist on Pat Rabbitte withdrawing his remarks, and I think that on reflection that Pat Rabbitte may well do so.
"It is not a good precedent for the leader of a political party in this country to show so such scant regard for the institutions of our democracy," the Minister added.