From top: Fine Gael’s Fergus O’Dowd and Catherine Connolly
One source said that a Fine Gael TD announced: “What the fuck?!” loudly when results were announced. With some independents likely to have voted with government, potentially 15 government TDs voted against their agreed candidate. Scenes.
— aoife-grace moore. (@aoifegracemoore) July 23, 2020
This afternoon.
Amid sweary voting drama, Independent TD Catherine Connolly was elected the Dáil’s first female Leas Cheann Comhairle.
Via The Irish Examiner:
Ms Connolly beat the agreed government candidate, Fine Gael’s Fergus O’Dowd, in a further embarrassment to the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party coalition.
It’s understood the government had 84 available votes, with Mr O’Dowd only garnering 74. Sources say “a post mortem” was underway in the aftermath of the result, as the vote is held in a secret ballot, it is not yet known who defected from the government.
One source said that the suspicion is mostly within Fianna Fáil, who last night agreed in a parliamentary party meeting to back Mr O’Dowd “through gritted teeth” but there is potential some Fine Gael colleagues also voted against the government.
Seemed to go well.
Catherine Connolly is the first woman to be elected Leas Ceann Comhairle (irish Examiner)
Ms Connolly pic via John Campbell
Meanwhile…
Jack Chambers
As predicted Jack Chambers is playing a blinder as Government Chief Whip. Highlights so far:
🔹️Forced to make an embarrassing U-Turn on the make up of oireachtas committees.
🔹️Failed to secure leas ceann comhairle position for government candidate despite handy majority.
— Ken Curtin (@kencurtin) July 23, 2020
Oh.
ROFL.
(I haven’t had the chance to write that for a week or so)
+MAO
72 of 84… that is 12 missing votes.
Who has 12 TDs? The Greens, that’s who.
They were probably asleep.
Poor little Cian. Lost your Dail bulwark now.
Oh dear, what will the neighbours say now?
How many TD’s can you fit into a Renault Megane?
74 of 84 = 10 missing votes.
D’oh! my bad!
They probably couldn’t find where the buttons were over in their temporary gaff
Ok, messing aside
Its a demonstration of how highly regarded Catherine Connolly is on all sides of our current Dáil
So Hon’ Catherine
And that O’Dowd fella is always hovering around looking to get spoonfed a gig
Less than useless
Many congratulations Catherine Connolly, she is an excellent politician.
+ she’s outstanding, excellent barrister and qc,wonderfully insightful questions at many hearings,does her homework and is super sharp, she should be minister for justice.
All of those things and respectful, calm and personable – when she has you on the hook you will not be getting off the hook too easily!
what made catherine connolly such a great “qc” in your esteemed opinion, johnny?
fact checking,you’ve been humbled and reduced to that,be better,wittier,or don’t bother bro.
haha yeah, johnny, you’ve “humbled” me
deluded little spoofer
did your day take a wong turn bro-HAHAHA
One of the best ever.
+1
Ah now, in fairness, Jack did wake sleepy Eamon up.
Good for her.
Delighted that a slap in the puss was delivered to the creepy O’Dowd and the entitled Chambers.
Paddy Power should open a book now on Dail votes. All fun and games. This government ain’t going to last very long.
Jack Chambers will get shafted very shortly….he’s an utter clown and a liability in public.