The treatment of Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy was 'dripping with misogny' Ciara Kelly has said.

The 34th Dáil met yesterday in order to elect a new Taoiseach, however a number of rows broke out in the chamber which led to the Dáil being suspended three times.

The sitting was first suspended by the new Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy, after several TDs raised their objection to the upcoming two-week break.

It was then suspended two further times in the afternoon.

'Well the Dáil is back. And things can never go simply.'@SeanDefoe and @LN_but take us through a crazy day in Irish politics, with the election of a Taoiseach being postponed, after a hectic day in Dáil Éireann. pic.twitter.com/CwrfUMm5Sz

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) January 22, 2025

Newstalk Breakfast presenter Ciara Kelly said the Ceann Comhairle was treated with "blatant disrespect" and "misogyny".

"She was treated in a way yesterday with a whole lack of respect that I don’t think a male politician would receive," she said.

"I don't think people would have treated Seán Ó Fearghaíl like that."

Ciara also said she thinks a "legal loophole" that would allow the non-ministerial Regional Independent TDs opposition resources "should have been closed".

Co-presenter Shane Coleman described the scenes in the Dáil chamber as a "national embarrassment".

"I think the arrangement with the Independents who are supporting the Government but [sitting] on the opposition bench, is a joke," he said.

"I don’t care what precedent you cite, it should not have happened - Micheál Martin and Simon Harris should not have allowed it to happen."

The response from some TDs in the opposition, however, was "entirely disproportionate", Shane said.

"It was actually Trumpian the way they stopped the election of the Taoiseach yesterday.

"I thought was really damaging to democracy - I think it sends out a really dangerous signal.

"I think it's a dangerous game and it brings politics into disrepute."

Shane Coleman in the Newstalk studio. Image: Newstalk

Shane described the treatment of the new Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy as "absolutely shameful".

"There is no other workplace where you can stand up and scream abuse - she was shown no respect yesterday" he said.

The Ceann Comhairle has since announced that she will not recognise a Dáil group containing TDs who support the Government as members of the opposition for today’s proceedings.

Feature image: Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy (R, via RollingNews.ie) and Ciara Kelly (L)