The Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil has said that she "categorically" rejects the "totally unfounded allegations" around her role in the speaking rights row, saying she fully intends to continue in her role.
In a statement, Verona Murphy said she will continue in her "onerous" role, and appeared to take aim at opposition critics calling for her to resign by telling TDs to "reflect on and abide by their own constitutional obligations".
Pressure has been growing throughout the day from Opposition quarters for the Ceann Comhairle to resign after yesterday's Dáil speaking rights row scenes.
The five main opposition parties confirmed a draft no confidence motion in Ms Murphy, which will be formally tabled on Friday, and is likely to result in a Dáil vote next Tuesday.
However, in her first public comments on the issue the Ceann Comhairle hit back, saying: "I categorically reject these totally unfounded allegations. I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present.
"The Clerk of Dáil Éireann has independently prepared a report on yesterday’s proceedings detailing the procedures followed. It has been laid before the Dáil and accordingly is a public document.
"I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dáil upon my election.
"I call on every member of the House to reflect on and abide by their own Constitutional obligations, to refrain from disorder, and to respect the rights and dignity of every other member and of the House itself".
The Ceann Comhairle's statement has publicly said what was already privately believed around Leinster House, namely that she was unlikely to step down and is prepared to fight back against opposition calls for her to resign.
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That position is almost certain to be backed by Government, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin strongly defending the Ceann Comhairle in a statement.
Micheál Martin has said there cannot be a situation where the Ceann Comhairle only stays in office if they obey the diktat of Opposition.
He also hit out at Sinn Féin, saying they cannot blame the Ceann Comhairle for their own extraordinary behaviour, and he said the party simply wants to dictate to the majority.
Meanwhile Fine Gael Deputy Leader Helen McEntee confirmed that any motion of no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle will be countered with a Confidence motion from the Government.
She told a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party that she never witnessed scenes like this week in all her time in politics.
The Ceann Comhairle's statement came alongside a separate statement from the clerk of the Dáil, Peter Finnegan, to the Ceann Comhairle.
Mr Finnegan said the Ceann Comhairle's actions yesterday, including a related controversy over whether a call for a vote on the Dáil order of business which did not take place, was "fully in accordance with [Dáil] standing orders" as the call for a vote "was not audible" in the Dáil chamber.
Mr Finnegan's statement continued by criticising the "great disorder" in the Dáil yesterday, saying: "Once a matter reaches the floor of the Dáil and is duly ordered, the Ceann Comhairle must proceed with the business as ordered.
"The Ceann comhairle cannot allow a situation where disorderly conduct is allowed to frustrate the business of the Dáil.
"Otherwise, the Dáil would be unable to discharge its Constitutional functions.
"Yesterday's proceedings were extraordinarily difficult for the Chair and indeed for all the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service who support the work of the Dáil chamber.
"The operation of the Dáil is only possible if members accept the Chair's authority and rulings.
"Ultimately the Constitution provides that all decisions are made by a majority of the members present and voting.
"Notwithstanding the unprecedented level of dissent yesterday, once a matter is put to the House, the only remedy for those dissenting is through the voting process in the House."
Report deeply flawed - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin has described an official report report on Tuesday's Dáil proceedings as deeply flawed.
The report was laid before the Dáil this evening by the Ceann Comhairle's office.
In a statement Sinn Féin said it does not tally with events in the Dáil chamber yesterday which can be viewed and heard on the Oireachtas website.
"The Ceann Comhairle was determined to force through a highly contentious and damaging Government proposition, regardless of what was happening on the floor of the Dáil.
"As a result, there was no vote on the Order of Business even though a vote was clearly called.
There was a unilateral waving of Promised legislation - something we have never seen in the Dáil.
"The Opposition did not move their amendment. In her haste to force through the Government proposal the Ceann Comhairle appears to have inadvertently moved the Opposition amendment and not the motion put forward by the Government. It was this amendment that was passed."
The no confidence motion states that Ms Murphy no longer retains the confidence of all members of the Dáil.
It is signed by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats' deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan, Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins and Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit-Solidarity.
The opposition's no confidence motion in the Ceann Comhairle pic.twitter.com/v9jmgfEnac
— Mícheál Lehane (@MichealLehane) March 26, 2025
The Government will vote confidence in Ms Murphy if, as expected, the matter goes to a vote next week, and is preparing a counter motion of confidence in the Ceann Comhairle.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the Opposition has been left with no choice but to pose the motion following yesterday's events in the Dáil.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, the Dublin Central deputy said the Ceann Comhairle, who is supposed to be an impartial actor, had shown bias towards the Government.
"Yesterday, I felt was a sad day for parliament as a whole, but I mean either we let our voices be heard for these things, or we allow private deals that happen in the background to just go through unchallenged," Mr Gannon said.
"The no confidence stems from an absence of a vote yesterday," he added.
Mr Gannon also that he would "of course" accept the outcome if the Opposition loses the vote.
Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit-Solidarity have all accused Ms Murphy of siding with the Government during yesterday's fractious proceedings in the Dáil.
During Leaders' Questions, Ms McDonald accused the Ceann Comhairle of bulldozing the rules to get the Government's speaking plan over the line.
The Taoiseach responded by saying that Sinn Féin's objective is to create mayhem for its own interests.
Mr Martin said the party's lack of confidence is a further installment in the strategy of total opposition.
He vowed that Sinn Féin's tactics would be met with steel and the party would not be allowed to run the Government side of the house.
'I do not believe you applied the rules' - Bacik
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik accused the Taoiseach of trying to ram through a "contrived" arrangement in service of a "sham" which she branded "a disgrace" and "a farce".
"Standing Orders of our national parliament have been rearranged in the service of cute hoorism, a grubby stroke," she said.
Mr Martin "arrogantly ploughed on" rather than finding a solution, she said, and has now compromised the office of the Ceann Comhairle who has a duty to apply the rules fairly.
"I deeply regret to say that after what we saw yesterday, I do not believe you applied the rules in that matter," she then told Ms Murphy.
Mr Martin said the underlying issue is the "formation of government", and insisted that Labour had no intention of going into government, adding "that's the bottom line".
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said she found claims of "misogyny" which were made yesterday in the Dáil to be "extremely cynical from one of the most male-dominated governments on the planet".
She said that Mr Martin knew the proposals were opposed by the Opposition and deciding not to have a debate had predictable results.
She accused him of breaking yet another promise - this one having been to find consensus on the issue.
Ms Coppinger said that critical issues will not now be raised with the halving of Taoiseach's Questions.
"This is in line with anti-democratic measures that parliaments are taking across Europe" to cut across protest, she added.
TDs need 'to get on with' their jobs - Harris
Tánaiste Simon Harris said said the level of anger displayed by the opposition yesterday was "disproportionate" and did not "indicate a willingness to try and find a way forward".
Speaking to reporters in Lebanon, Mr Harris said the public wanted to see elected representatives work on the issues facing Ireland
"I think the people who pay our wages, our bosses, the people of Ireland, want us to get on with it," he said.
Asked if the Government could do anything to ameliorate opposition concerns, he suggested the re-establishment of committees may see a return to cross-party work.
"The Dáil needs to get into that rhythm now. We need to move on and restore decorum in the Dáil chamber," Mr Harris added.
Additional reporting Mícheál Lehane, PA
