The Opposition is mounting pressure on the Dáil's first female Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy, to resign.
If this comes to pass, she would become only the second Ceann Comhairle to be forcibly removed from the role after John O'Donoghue resigned over an expenses scandal in 2009.
The long-standing Fianna Fáil TD for the then Kerry South constituency had been a member of the Dáil for 22 years and a government minister between 1997 and 2007.
After not being returned to the cabinet by then taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern in June 2007, Mr O'Donoghue was asked to be Ceann Comhairle.
However, a flurry of Freedom of Information Acts during the summer months mounted pressure on Mr O'Donoghue.
Controversy over the high level of expenses he incurred as minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism during a time of great economic austerity began to build.
In early October, the Kerry South TD promised to disclose his expenses with a view to making the workings of his office more transparent.
Damning figures showed that some €45,000 was spent on foreign travel, €13,000 for car and limousine hire, and just under €5,000 spent on VIP lounges over the previous two years.
The release of these expense claims sealed the Ceann Comhairle's fate.
However, he claimed that costs were incurred by his ministerial and Ceann Comhairle offices for the purposes of carrying out the work of the offices rather than by him.
On Tuesday, 6 October 2009, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore dramatically told Mr O'Donoghue to his face that his position was untenable.
Mr Gilmore said the Ceann Comhairle would have to resign or be sacked.
"I regret to say this, but I consider your position is no longer tenable," he said.
Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny quickly backed the call and negotiations ensued with the party whips.
At 10.30pm, Mr O'Donoghue issued a statement saying he would resign the following week.
The Labour Party welcomed his statement, but Fine Gael said the delay in his resignation would only do further damage to the office of the Ceann Comhairle.
A week later, Mr O’Donoghue said that he regretted "although on official duty, such considerable costs were incurred".
"I apologise for this. I fully appreciate how the very considerable cost of executing the office of Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, and indeed any ministerial office, during those years now being commented on is very substantial against today's backdrop."
He acknowledged the relevance of this as "many more people are facing serious financial difficulties".
