There were heated exchanges in the Dáil when RISE TD Paul Murphy called for a vote on today's Order of Business, because his group was prevented from having a debate on the removal of Seamus Woulfe from the Supreme Court.
Deputy Murphy said he was requesting even five minutes of Dáil time to debate the question, and there could then be a vote on their motion which seeks to initiate impeachment proceedings.
However Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl said the Standing Orders for such a debate had been considered by the Oireachtas' "highly reputable and skilled legal team", adding "I have absolute faith in them".
He said the team had "guided us and reached a conclusion" that such a motion would not be in order at this time - instead the group could use its own Private Members time tomorrow, should it so wish.
However Deputy Murphy had argued that "in our opinion, the standing orders are very clear" and allow for such a debate to take place.
As the issue was pursued, and with interventions by Sinn Féin's whip Pádraig MacLochlainn, the Ceann Comhairle told deputies: "We can't ride the horse backwards."
The Order of Business was put to a vote, and was passed by a majority of 32 - 12.
Afterwards, People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith argued it was the group's Constitutional right to put the motion. She also contended an Oireachtas Business Committee was given contradictory advice.
The Ceann Comhairle said he refuted that the parliamentary legal advice gave contradictory advice, and refuted any suggestion that anyone's Constitutional rights were being infringed.
