Ireland’s parliament was thrown into disarray on Tuesday as opposition lawmakers shouted down the prime minister and forced an early adjournment in protest against controversial changes to speaking rules, according to Politico.
The unprecedented scenes saw tempers flare and accusations of misogyny leveled at the chamber’s first female speaker.
The coalition government of Prime Minister Micheál Martin succeeded in passing an amendment creating new questioning slots for pro-government independents. However, the opposition parties called the move an abuse of parliamentary procedure.
Sinn Féin party and other opposition members immediately disrupted proceedings, drowning out Martin’s attempts to speak after the 94-74 vote victory.
Speaker Verona Murphy repeatedly admonished lawmakers before conceding defeat. She ultimately adjourned the session without formally recording the vote outcome.
The crisis stems from opposition fury over the government’s reliance on the “Regional Independents,” a group whose kingmaker, Tipperary TD Michael Lowry, was previously implicated in corruption findings. In exchange for their support, these non-party lawmakers secured the speakership for Murphy, junior ministerial positions, and questioning rights traditionally reserved for opposition parties.
The deadlock has paralysed committee formations and comes at a sensitive juncture for Ireland’s export-dependent economy. Martin warned the opposition’s tactics were reckless given impending US tariff threats that could disproportionately impact Ireland’s pharmaceutical sector.
