The Dáil has passed changes to speaking time arrangements in the chamber amid chaotic scenes in which Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy said deputies were "making a holy show of themselves".
The Dáil was adjourned for the day after it voted in favour of the changes to standing orders by a margin of 93 to 74 during which there was another period of rambunctious scenes.
The combined Opposition proposal to amend the Government's motion was never put to a vote.
The vote occurred after Ms Murphy suspended the Dáil following an earlier period of shouting from the Opposition benches over the speaking rights proposal.
She announced the move after roughly five minutes of requests, to mainly Sinn Féin TDs who were shouting across the chamber, to resume their seats. At various times, she described the situation as "farcical" and "an absolute disgrace".
The suspension came after a fractious and increasingly chaotic Leaders' Questions debate which repeatedly heard her call for calm and to "respect the chair".
During the debate itself, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there had been no change to Opposition speaking time in the Government's proposal, and that the Opposition had been "wholly disproportionate" in its response.
"There has been no change in accountability of this Government in this Dáil compared to the last Dáil," he said.
Mr Martin said that it was important to focus on more substantive issues. He said the level of change was "miniscule" in his Government's proposals and again questioned the combined Opposition response.
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was staggering just how far the Government had gone to uphold its deal with the Regional Independent TDs.
She accused the Taoiseach of going back on his word to find a solution to the row which would have the agreement of the Opposition.
"Your words mean nothing," she said.
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She asked what debt Mr Martin owed Michael Lowry, adding that the Tipperary TD wants to sit in both Government and Opposition at the same time.
The changes, which she said amounted to an "absurd brazen stroke", would turn the Dáil inside out and will do lasting damage.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said Michael Lowry and the Regional Independents were a poor tribute act and a poor imitation of those genuinely in Opposition.
Ms Bacik said the proposed changes would create a device "manufactured to give the Lowry lads and Toole special time to tell you how well you're doing".
The Taoiseach said there was no change in accountability from the Government to the Dáil compared with the last.
He said the response was wholly disproportionate as the changes would give each TD one opportunity to ask the Taoiseach a question.
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins told the Taoiseach that the Dáil speaking rights plan was a "dark day for democracy".
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All you need to know about the Dáil speaking rights row
Mr Collins outlined the timeline of the row to date over the past two months and how the Dáil reform committee has only met two times in that period.
He urged the Taoiseach to "trash out an agreement to bring this sorry episode to an end" and asked the Taoiseach "are you a man of your word or not?"
The Taoiseach responded by saying that Mr Collins' "dark day" remark is a type of "hyperbole that is really stretching it", and said the row is over "eight minutes on a Tuesday and Wednesday".
He said: "The dark day of Irish democracy? It's eight minutes extra on a Tuesday and a Wednesday, and apparently we're on the brink."
The Opposition are determined to resist the changes to the Dáil's speaking rules, which are viewed as a key part of the agreement between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent TDs, who are supporting the Government.
