The Dáil was suspended this morning after heated exchanges between Minister of State Seán Fleming and People Before Profit TDs Paul Murphy and Bríd Smith.
During a debate on a PBP motion on neutrality and the triple lock, Minister Fleming pointed towards the PBP members and said: "I have listened to Putin's puppets over there today. And this is an issue of Putin's puppets versus the people of Ireland... And that's what you are - you're puppets for Putin, and you're on the wrong side of history."
At that point, a clearly irate Deputy Murphy got to his feet and shouted across the Dáil chamber.
This led to Fine Gael TD Michael Ring, who was chairing the debate, to demand the People Before Profit TD resume his seat.
After ringing the Dáil bell to restore order, Deputy Ring raised his voice to Deputy Murphy: "You had your opportunity. And you're going to get ten minutes at the end [of the debate]."
Deputy Murphy cited standing orders to be allowed to speak but this was ruled out of order by Deputy Ring.
Deputy Smith then intervened and addressing Minister Fleming said: "I want you to withdraw that accusation that we are puppets of Putin. Withdraw it now."
Minister Fleming responded: "Well all I can say is that I did not direct my comments at any individual..."
Deputy Ring ordered both Paul Murphy and Bríd Smith to sit down and refused to take any points of order.
Deputy Murphy read out Ruling of the Chair No 417, which states: "Member may not say that another Member is taking orders or instructions from outside interests or is representing or speaking for such interests".
The row continued unabated for nearly three minutes until Deputy Ring suspended the House for five minutes.
Read more: Latest politics stories
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Simon Harris told the Dáil that the Government is committed to "amending" the Triple Lock.
The current Triple Lock mechanism only allows for the deployment of more than 12 troops overseas if there is a United Nations mandate, either from the Security Council or General Assembly, alongside Government and Dáil approval.
Mr Harris said that there is a need to "refresh the situation", adding that when the Minister for Defence Micheál Martin presents the details of the bill, it would "show that it's not intending to do would you fear it will do".
The Taoiseach was responding to People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy who had asked if Mr Harris is committed to "scrapping" the Triple Lock.
Mr Murphy noted that his party had tabled a private member's bill on the matter earlier today.
He insisted that the Triple Lock does not give the power of veto to a member of the UN Security Council over whether Ireland deploys peacekeepers and dismissed such objections to the Triple Lock as a "red herring".
