Dáil code: 'handbagging' not allowed

THE TITLE of the document that decides what constitutes unparliamentary language in the Dáil chamber gives a strong clue of its quaint, old-fashioned and almost innocent world view.

It is called Salient Rulings of the House. And while the latest edition was updated as recently as March 2006, it could just have easily have been written in 1956. Some of the prohibited oaths, insults, slights, taunts and allegations have fallen out of use or are deeply anachronistic. Others are so mild as to be endearing. When a deputy is guilty of breaching the code, he or she is ruled “to be disorderly”.

Paul Gogarty was correct when he said that the “f-word” was not one of the insulting or abusive expressions that was forbidden. None of the other common extreme expletives are included.

The official list of banned words includes: brat; buffoon; chancer; communist; corner boy; coward; fascist; gurrier; guttersnipe; hypocrite; rat; scumbag; scurrilous; and yahoo.

There is also the following intriguing ruling: “The reference to ‘handbagging’, particularly with reference to a lady member of the House, has been deemed to be unparliamentary.”

This rule dates back to 1992 when the then minister for transport Máire Geoghegan-Quinn took exception to Fine Gael TD Austin Currie describing her style of negotiation with Aer Lingus as “handbagging”.

She said it was sexist. Another Fine Gael TD, Alan Dukes, retorted that “groin-kicking” would have been a more appropriate word to describe her approach to the negotiations.

Most of the rulings prohibit allegations that another member was a liar, or was telling untruths, or violated the secrets of cabinet, or doctored an official report.

“Insinuations of drunkenness against a member are disorderly,” it also states.