It really was a bizarre day in Leinster House on Wednesday.
Unprecedented is an overused word, but even world-weary Dáil veterans were hard-pressed to find another way to describe the chaotic scenes.
The place should have been heaving well into the night. But the sudden abandonment of business by a clearly shaken Ceann Comhairle saw an early evening clear-out. Disappointed supporters of the taoiseach-in-waiting and ministerial hopefuls made their way home or trudged off to nearby hostelries to drown their sorrows.
The Dáil bar called last orders at about 7pm.
The Michael Lowry issue is still unresolved and may escalate. GUBU’s the word for it
Storm Lowry lands in Dáil Éireann - and it’s a miracle the roof stayed on
Flashback Central as Fianna Fáil celebrates return of the good times
Miriam Lord’s review of the year: Shock resignations, ruptured relations and an over-eager new Taoiseach
But it’s not that there was nothing happening. Frantic attempts were already under way to find a solution to the impasse over the government-backed Regional Independent Group’s stubborn insistence that it should be given Opposition speaking time.
No wonder Simon and Micheál looked less than wide awake and enthusiastic when round two started up in the Dáil on Thursday morning. They were holed up half the night in negotiations with the incalcitrant RIGers and Opposition representatives and didn’t leave until about 3.30am.
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy finally steadied the ship on Thursday morning with a very carefully worded statement and a very meaningful phrase.
“Significant ambiguity” saved the day.
“It seems to me there is a significant ambiguity,” she said, speaking very slowly to a mercifully silent chamber. Accordingly, the RIGers would not be allowed speak on Opposition time, this time.
“The government recognises that there is ambiguity,” responded Hildegarde Naughton, in her last day as government chief whip.
Michael Lowry, the non-titular leader of the RIGers and leader of the remaining members of the group who didn’t get a fancy government job for signing up to support it, did not look happy.
His Opposition speaking rights try-on is a case study in political cleverality. The entire Opposition was up in arms the moment they heard of his audacious bid. Some conspiracy theorists were even saying they could see the fingerprints of Big Phil Hogan all over it – but sure he’s out of politics now.
The incoming taoiseach was trying to sort things. He rang around Opposition leaders. Labour’s Ivana Bacik was on RTÉ’s Prime Time, and when the programme finished, she found a missed call from Micheál, who was trying his damnedest to engineer a breakthrough.
The whole kit and caboodle was in complete meltdown because of Michael Lowry and his plan. At the Opposition and Whips’ meeting on Wednesday afternoon, even Richard Boyd-Barrett was stressing the need to find a resolution to give the government a way out of the mess.
[ Was Dáil chaos a pre-planned sabotage or spontaneous outpouring of frustration?Opens in new window ]
Meanwhile, Verona Murphy was also getting stuck in. She had a meeting with Lowry and one of the RIG’s ministers of state Sean Canney until 1.30am.
And then it all went into the next day. Meetings all morning, as the Dáil start time was pushed back again and again, and Micheál’s family were left waiting in the Distinguished Visitors’ Gallery.
At this point, as the morning wore on, Lowry had yet another meeting with Simon and Micheál. He was not happy about the speaking time concession. Then a tantalising rumour took root among non-government politicians: dealmaker Lowry was suggesting one of Simon’s Seanad nominations could be channelled in the Regional Independents’ direction.
[ Storm Lowry lands in Dáil Éireann - and it’s a miracle the roof stayed onOpens in new window ]
However, he was seen leaving his meeting with Simon and Micheál by Opposition leaders waiting to go in and, as one of them said, “he did not look one bit happy”.
The gossip machine is in full spate. Word is that the Lowry issue is still unresolved and may escalate.
This is not just unprecedented.
It’s GUBU. And there’s no significant ambiguity about it.
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When freshly elected Taoiseach Micheál Martin finally got his chance on Thursday to bounce out the front door of Leinster House to bask in the acclaim of his fellow Soldiers of Destiny, he made a special beeline for one man in particular as he worked his way down the line of backslappers and glad-handers.
Amid all the excitement, Micheál spotted him standing quietly among the Cork contingent, a little back from the action.
It was Joe Murphy from Turners Cross.
“Come out here!” cried Micheál.
And the two embraced and the camera phones came out and there were cheers and lots of tears from the constituency crowd.
Then Joe went back inside Leinster House, where he promptly got lost, and we rescued him as he was heading off down a ground floor corridor towards the Labour Party rooms.
“I was looking for the door,” he said. “I’ve have to catch the train home.”
‘I remember him from the beginning, and he’s just been a very honest individual all of his life. It’s great to see’
— Joe Murphy on Micheál Martin
Turns out that Fianna Fáil member Joe has been observing Micheál the politician from very early on in his career.
“I know him from when he was only about 10 and this high,” said Joe, putting his hand down towards the ground.
“I was with him from the start. He stood out even then as an individual that was honest. You could trust him.”
Joe, who turns 80 later this year, got the train up from Cork at the crack of dawn on Wednesday to be there for Micheál’s big day. But ructions in the Dáil meant his election as Taoiseach was postponed – so Joe duly took the train home again.
But the retired shipbuilder, who went on to work in the Crawford Art Gallery for 25 years, was on the 5.40am train back to Dublin on Thursday morning. He was overwhelmed when Michéal made a point of greeting him.
“Sure I didn’t expect that at all.”
He wasn’t surprised that Micheál was Taoiseach. “He always had good people around him over the years. The best. I remember him from the beginning, and he’s just been a very honest individual all of his life. It’s great to see.”
Joe’s voice trailed off. He had to stop talking as his emotions got the better of him.
“Where’s the right way out?”
“Ah here, Joe. Would you not go around the corner into the Dáil bar. Would you, will we not go in for an aul coffee or a little drink? Half of Cork must be in there.”
“No. No. I have to get the train.
“I’m happy. I saw what I came here to see.”
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The Cabinet of the 35th Government of Ireland.
A great bunch of lads.
Many have already remarked that Micheál Martin and Simon Harris’s radical new front bench is 20 per cent women and 20 per cent Jimmys.
Micheál and Simon rushed out a joint press statement to welcome the appointments and reaffirm their ongoing commitment to Jemser balance at all levels of Government.
“Today we recognised Irish men called James by elevating James Lawless, James Brown and Jim O’Callaghan to senior Cabinet position.
Our commitment to Jemser balance is further reflected with senior ministries for Norman Foley, Bennifer Carroll MacNeill and Helmut McEntee
“We recognised the central role of men called James in Irish society. We recognised the need for them to be a vocal and visible presence at the Cabinet table.
“We wanted to reflect a modern, progressive Ireland, where men called James represent half the adult population and make a vital contribution to the community.
“For too long, they have been excluded from the very engine room of Government.
“This stops today.
“Today, the lip service stops and the journey begins.
“We have listened to the men called James.
“We stand with them.
“With these necessary appointments we are taking bold measures to increase the number of men called James participating at the highest level of decision-making in our country.
“This is just the beginning.
“There are two Darraghs in Cabinet who spell their names differently. We have recognised that difference. We have appointed two Johns who currently identify as Seán and Jack. Our commitment to Jemser balance is further reflected with senior ministries for Norman Foley, Bennifer Carroll MacNeill and Helmut McEntee.
“For far too long, men called James have been relegated to serving the tea when they should be serving in Cabinet.
“Although to be fair, the James’s do make a lovely cup of tea.
“The work goes on.”
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