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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Vote button incident

Summary

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae raises concerns about a Minister pressing another Minister’s vote button during a division. The Chair repeatedly rules it out of order and says it will be handled by the Committee on Procedure, while several Members comment that the matter is serious.

I want to ask the Taoiseach if it is correct and allowable that one Minister can press another Minister's vote button. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, pressed the button of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, during the vote for his Bill last Thursday.

Comment on this

That is not relevant to the Order of Business we are dealing with.

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Where will this be dealt with? It is totally unfair.

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The Committee on Procedure.

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The Criminal Courts of Justice.

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We will deal with it at the Committee on Procedure.

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Will he please come into this Chamber and explain what he was at? He reached across and pressed the Minister, Deputy Zappone's, button.

Comment on this

It is not in order to bring it up here but we will deal with it.

Comment on this

She was also paired, a Cheann Comhairle.

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Yes. It will be dealt with by the Committee on Procedure.

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Mattie dealt with it.

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It is a serious matter.

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It is very serious, and everyone is taking a very dim view of it.

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I know that. I call Deputy Murphy.

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Your teller did not take a dim view of it the other day.

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