The Ceann Comhairle

neris

Dont know if ive spent that right, was never good at irish. But listening to news reports again today its coming across that over the last while when a member of the opposition voices any criticism or points the blame for the imf/eu bailout hes straight in to tell them to be quiet and move on to the next point where ff cant be taken to bits. Surely the point of the dail,an opposition politicians job and free speech is to question the running of the state and criticise.

Krusader

I've notied that aswell, I never understood why a TD from the government is made Ceann Comhairle, wouldn't it be better to have an impartial 3rd party, like a judge or someone like that

Coriolanus

It was done that way because the political instititions were formed to be deliberately partisan by the framers of the Constitution unfortunately.

Personally I'd like to see the chair revolve through either the smaller parties and independents, or the entire house. That would, in theory, keep the chair honest because if one party abused the priveledge in their 6 month (?) round they would be similarly abused by whoever came next.

johngalway

It should be a totally independent position not held by a person from any political party. It should also be available for scrutiny by some body or other to keep the position honest.

neris

johngalway wrote: »

It should also be available for scrutiny by some body or other to keep the position honest.

wasnt that why john odonoghue was whinging when he was forced to resign that he felt his position shouldnt have been under scrutiny by his previous actions because he was the chair at that stage?

P. Breathnach

Many years ago there was a custom that the position was given to an opposition TD (who, of course, then ceased to be an opposition TD because he was deemed to be removed from partisan politics).

It is only in the past twenty years or so that it came to be seen as another goodie to be snaffled for one of its members by the party in power.

Some (but by no means all) of the shenanigans that happen are not particularly the fault of the Ceann Comhairle, but are due to the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann, which seem to have been drawn up in such a way as to make it unduly difficult for the government or any of its ministers to be made answerable to the house. There are mechanisms that the opposition can use, particularly the adjournment debate, but sometimes the opposition like to do a bit of grandstanding rather than use those mechanisms.

Coriolanus

johngalway wrote: »

It should be a totally independent position not held by a person from any political party. It should also be available for scrutiny by some body or other to keep the position honest.

How would it be chosen then? Seperate elections?

Elevator

I'd like to know why you can't say the word lies during the dail question time?!?

the cheann comhairle pulled up the sinn féin td the other day when attacking cowen and ff because he mentioned the "lies" word and amazingly he could use "fibs" instead and all was well

what was that all about?

the whole system is wrong

wrong I tells ya!!

Coriolanus

Elevator wrote: »

I'd like to know why you can't say the word lies during the dail question time?!?

the cheann comhairle pulled up the sinn féin td the other day when attacking cowen and ff because he mentioned the "lies" word and amazingly he could use "fibs" instead and all was well

what was that all about?

the whole system is wrong

wrong I tells ya!!

Something to do with certain words being banned, but it's only done on a case by case basis. 'S why that clown got away with saying fúck, it wasn't technically banned yet.

Liam Byrne

Nevore wrote: »

Something to do with certain words being banned, but it's only done on a case by case basis. 'S why that clown got away with saying fúck, it wasn't technically banned yet.

Cowen or the Green idiot ?

kaiser sauze

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Cowen or the Green idiot ?

Gogarty.

Amhran Nua

I think "commies" is banned as well. Is there a handy list of banned words in the Dáil for our edification somewhere.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Amhran Nua wrote: »

I think "commies" is banned as well. Is there a handy list of banned words in the Dáil for our edification somewhere.

read it here before. amazingly ''hypocrite'' is banned

Bottle_of_Smoke

Nevore wrote: »

How would it be chosen then? Seperate elections?

Perhaps the senate could choose. Not perfect but probably more feasible than elections.

Amhran Nua

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

read it here before. amazingly ''hypocrite'' is banned

Few more from Wikipedia:

Brat, buffoon, chancer, communist, corner boy, fruit booty, west middleton towel dropper, dunny dancer, morton's steam peddler, cab stander, uptown nightie boy, old farmer's hand warmer, batty boy, lucker tucker, coward, fascist, gurrier, guttersnipe, hypocrite, rat, scumbag, scurrilous speaker, or yahoo; or to insinuate that a TD is lying or drunk; or has violated the secrets of cabinet, or doctored an official report.

Apparently the list is in something called "Salient Rulings of the Chair", in section 428, if anyone can find that.

A lucker tucking fruit booty of an old farmer's hand warmer. Indeed.

Coriolanus

That list is great! I want to know who use west middleton towel dropper and at whom it was in reference...

Amhran Nua

Nevore wrote: »

That list is great! I want to know who use west middleton towel dropper and at whom it was in reference...

Definetely, was just thinking the same myself. A dunny dancing morton's steam peddler, howdya like them apples eh.

goose2005

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Few more from Wikipedia:

Brat, buffoon, chancer, communist, corner boy, fruit booty, west middleton towel dropper, dunny dancer, morton's steam peddler, cab stander, uptown nightie boy, old farmer's hand warmer, batty boy, lucker tucker, coward, fascist, gurrier, guttersnipe, hypocrite, rat, scumbag, scurrilous speaker, or yahoo; or to insinuate that a TD is lying or drunk; or has violated the secrets of cabinet, or doctored an official report.

Apparently the list is in something called "Salient Rulings of the Chair", in section 428, if anyone can find that.

A lucker tucking fruit booty of an old farmer's hand warmer. Indeed.

The words in bold have clearly been added by a vandal - I think they're from Ali G. You can see them interrupting the alphabetical order. And I wonder if you could get kicked out for calling Joe Higgins a communist?


Btw, for anyone that doesn't know, O'Donoghue was made CC because he would be re-elected automatically in Kerry South, and this would help FF get rid of Healy-Rae

Amhran Nua

goose2005 wrote: »

The words in bold have clearly been added by a vandal - I think they're from Ali G. You can see them interrupting the alphabetical order.

Aw! Spoil our fun!