Michael Lowry has been accused of “giving the two fingers to the people in Ireland” in the Dáil chamber today.
After another acrimonious row over speaking rights in Dáil Éireann, opposition TDs began to shout ‘shame’ as Government TDs filed out of the chamber.
People Before Profit videoed the moment and turned around to focus on TD Michael Lowry.
The Tipperary North independent then raised two fingers in Deputy Murphy’s direction.
Speaking to Newstalk, independent TD Richard O’Donoughue said it was no way to behave in the Dáil chamber.
“When you see one person that this whole day was over and this whole Dáil has been held up over the last three-months, [to] stick his fingers up in the Dáil chamber - what does that tell you?” he said.
“It means that he’s giving the two fingers to the people in Ireland that he will do what he wants, with the Government - with or without their support.
“That to me is absolutely disgusting.”
In a statement to the Journal.ie, Deputy Lowry claimed he had been telling Deputy Murphy to “sit down with my fingers”.
Leinster House. Picture by: Alamy.com.On The Hard Shoulder, Newstalk Political Correspondent Seán Defoe said it had been an afternoon of “absolute chaos”.
“A slot that was meant to take half an hour took over an hour,” he said.
“Every single time the Taoiseach got up to speak, the opposition were shouting him down.
“A total and utter slagging match backwards and forwards.”
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy suspended the house but it resumed and the chaos continued.
“She decided, using her own prerogative, to skip over a number of other items of business that were on the Dáil agenda and proceed straight to a vote on this particular motion and the amendments to standing orders,” Seán said.
“Which caused utter chaos and confusion in the Dáil - a lot of TDs didn’t know what the vote was about.”
Shame on this government and their Ceann Comhairle.
An authoritarian stroke by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and their Lowry and Healy Rae 'independents'.
Sums up the day's events.#LowrysLackeys #FakeOpposition pic.twitter.com/6YTTkkiyaG
— Paul Murphy 🏳️⚧️ (@paulmurphy_TD) March 25, 2025
After TDs voted on the change to the standing order, the Ceann Comhairle declared the vote had passed - meaning new speaking rights have been conferred on backbench Government TDs.
“The Government rammed it through, the vote passed,” Seán said.
“They tried to proceed then with the normal business of the day; [they] were totally shouted down by the opposition.
“At that point, Verona Murphy suspended the Dáil until tomorrow, cancelling all other business that’s going on today.”
After the vote, two Independent TDs had to be held back from each other by an usher.
Main image: Michael Lowry. Picture by: Paul Murphy.
