Dáil adjourned until Tuesday after Mary Lou McDonald sit-in

The Dáil has finally adjourned after a suspension lasting four and a half hours due to a sit-in by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett entered the chamber to announce he was adjourning the Dail until 2pm next Tuesday.

An Oireachtas spokeswoman had earlier confirmed the Dáil would remain suspended until Ms McDonald left the chamber, or until 2pm on Tuesday.

The authorities’ view of Ms McDonald’s refusal to leave is that she defied the wishes of the House, who voted by 64 to 43 for her to be suspended.

The vote to exclude the Dublin Central TD was taken at 12.30pm. Ms McDonald refused to leave when instructed to do so by Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett and the vote was taken.

Statement issued

Mr Barrett this afternoon issued a statement saying the stand-off in the Dáil chamber was “deeply regrettable, especially when important business is being dealt with by the Dáil”.

Ms McDonald had risen to complain that Tánaiste Joan Burton refused to answer her questions about whether charges would be deducted from the social welfare payments, pensions or wages of those who refused to pay the charge.

Two hours after the Dublin Central TD was voted out of the House she remained in the chamber, surrounded by some of her parliamentary party colleagues.

‘Very peaceful’

At one state, when asked how long she would remain in the chamber, Ms McDonald said: “It’s very peaceful in here.”

The Tánaiste had already left the chamber, and Minister for Health Leo Varadkar remained along with a number of Government TDs.

Subsequently, all Fine Gael and Labour TDs left the chamber. Ms Burton then returned to collect her documents and Sinn Féin TD Sandra McLellan said she could have avoided all the trouble if she had just answered the questions.

Ms Burton retorted that Sinn Féin should have answered questions yesterday during the debate on alleged sexual abuse by republicans.

Ceann Comhairle’s statement

Mr Barrett’s statement said Ms McDonald had interrupted business and would not resume her seat when asked.

“I then told her that if she didn’t resume her seat she would have to leave the Dáil chamber in accordance with the rules of the House. The Deputy refused. At which point I had no choice but to put the question to the House and the House voted to suspend the Deputy.”

The Captain of the Guard was asked to remove the Deputy, but “has been unsuccessful in his efforts to escort the Deputy from the chamber”.

“If this action continues beyond 4.30pm and for the purpose of avoiding further reputational damage to the institution,” he added, “I will have no option but to formally adjourn the sitting until next Tuesday at 2pm. Finally, I wish to say that I regret very much having to take this route but there is no other option open to me.”