Watch: Angry scenes in Dáil as Healy-Rae and McSharry argue over speaking time

The Dáil was suspended briefly this afternoon after a row over speaking time.

Watch: Angry scenes in Dáil as Healy-Rae and McSharry argue over speaking time

The Dáil was suspended briefly this afternoon after a row over speaking time.

Fianna Fáil's Marc McSharry took issue with Independent Michael Healy-Rae in the chamber.

The Dáil is trialling a new system where TDs need numbered cards in order to be allowed to speak on an issue.

Leas-Cheann Comhairle Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher suspended the Dáil after this outburst earlier.

Here's a full transcript of the exchange...

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I go to No. 1, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, on promised legislation or the programme for Government.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae: In the programme for Government, there is a promise to protect farmers' incomes and payments. Indeed, the promise covered cases in which payments were held up for one reason or another and a consensus was arrived that two thirds of outstanding payments would be made until the problems were sorted out. However, where commonage was burned in Kerry, some farmers received no payments at all for Christmas. They have no other income. In the fullness of time, they will win their battle because their commonage was burned from outside. They had nothing to do with the burning of the commonage. I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to intervene to ensure these farmers get fair play. It is wrong to take their whole payment from them. They were told they would get payments in 2018. That is totally wrong.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: We will let the Taoiseach answer.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae: On the same issue-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Does the Deputy have a card?

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae: Of course, I have.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Show it to me.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae: It is the same issue.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue: Same issue also, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Deputy Marc MacSharry: Oh, stop. This is making a joke out of it altogether. It is every ten minutes.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Hold on, Deputy MacSharry.

Deputy Marc MacSharry: We have 44 Deputies here but we have Kofi Annan McGrath and Ban Ki-moon Healy-Rae up every day, undermining this country's-----

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae: That is outrageous.

Deputy Marc MacSharry: There are either 168 Deputies here or there are not.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae: Do not call us names. We were elected here in our own names and we will take no rubbish from Deputy MacSharry.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae: When Deputy MacSharry was looking for Seanad votes, he was damn glad to come to Kilgarvan.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae: Deputy MacSharry's party is here supporting the Government and saying it has nothing to do with it.

Deputy Marc MacSharry: This is a joke. It is "Strictly Come Dancing" and they are the half-time performers.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I am going to move on. Deputy MacSharry, control yourself.

Deputy Marc MacSharry: For Christ's sake, control them. The Business Committee of the House is a joke.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae: Deputy MacSharry came into Kilgarvan.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Deputies, I will take action if it is necessary.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae: Sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Deputy Marc MacSharry: I am going to set up the Sligo-Leitrim technical group to get a few words in here; myself and Deputies Tony McLoughlin, Martin Kenny and Eamon Scanlon.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Listen, Deputy MacSharry. Everyone one is circumventing the regulations.

Deputy Marc MacSharry: This is a disgrace.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I will suspend the House.

Deputy Marc MacSharry: Suspend it if you like. It may as well be suspended. The same people have the floor all the time.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Deputy MacSharry will not speak to the Chair like that.

Deputy Marc MacSharry: I cannot speak to anybody.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: You will not speak to the Chair in that way. I will suspend the House for five minutes.

Sitting suspended at 1.17 p.m. and resumed at 1.24 p.m.

- Digital desk

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