The Dáil formally voted to suspend Fine Gael's Alan Shatter this morning after he refused to leave the House when told to go by Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk.
Mr Shatter had refused to unreservedly withdraw comments he had made about Mr Kirk that he was undermining the credibility of the Dáil.
That comment came after Mr Kirk interrupted Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and told him he could not debate the banking crisis during the Order of Business, as time was being allowed for such a debate later today.
Mr Kenny objected, saying the Government had offered a debate for 95 minutes - when after nearly 95 years of independence, Ireland's economic independence was being handed over to the International Monetary Fund.
Mr Kenny said today was the result of the kind of politics practiced by Fianna Fáil - cronyism, dig-outs, a nod and a wink - with the taxpayer paying at the end of the day.
He said the British Chancellor had talked yesterday of loans to Ireland.
Mr Kenny said the consequence of that would be that Britain would give Ireland money so that AIB could pay off British banks - and the taxpayers would pay for it all.
