Flanagan's children 'teased' over Barrett's dress comments
Independent TD Luke 'Ming' Flanagan claims his children are "being teased" because the Ceann Comhairle is commenting on the way he dresses in the Dáil.
The Roscommon South Leitrim TD had a row with Seán Barrett that led to the suspension of the Dáil.
Deputy Flanagan says the Ceann Comhairle should not be commenting to the media about the way he dresses.
Speaking to Mr Barrett in the chamber, Flanagan said: “The point I’m trying to make is that I’m asking you to desist from making comments about the way I dress and other members of the house dress to the national media.
“This morning I had a call from my wife to tell me that my children are being teased.”
[comment]Video: Aidan Coughlan/broadsheet.ie[/comment]
The Ceann Comhairle said later in a statement that he would be seeking a correction to a newspaper article which led to the row.
Mr Barratt said that the article is misleading and he never referred to any individual.
"Contrary to a misleading headline and article in today’s Irish Independent, the Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett TD did not refer to any individual member of the Dáil when asked about a possible Dáil dress code," the statement from the Ceann Comhairle's office read.
"The background to today’s article is that in an interview last month with the Irish Independent the Ceann Comhairle was questioned about the general principle of a dress code.
"The Ceann Comhairle has requested that the Irish Independent correct the misleading information in tomorrow’s newspaper."
