Good afternoon Deputies. I now take Leader's Questions under Standing Order No. 36. I call Deputy McDonald.

The brazen stroke engineered by the Taoiseach yesterday represents an unprecedented sabotaging of the democracy of the Dáil. This mess is entirely of the Government's making-----

Hear, hear.

-----and the chaos that unfolded in this Chamber is a response to the Taoiseach running roughshod over the democratic functioning of the Dáil to suit his own agenda and to protect his grubby deal with Michael Lowry.

Hear, hear.

A deal so important to the self-serving political interests of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, that he moves heaven and earth to allow Deputy Lowry and his group of TDs to be both in Government and Opposition at the same time.

Of course, this plan is of mutual benefit. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael seek to blunt the Opposition and dodge accountability. Michael Lowry and his crew seek a way to gain political influence and high office. The nod, the wink, the stroke politics so associated with Fianna Fáil is not only back, but is the very foundation of the Government.

Hear, hear.

A murky deal with a man the Taoiseach once described as "a rogue politician", who he called on to resign his Dáil seat because of the findings of corruption against him, now pulls the strings as king-maker in the Government's coalition and gives the two fingers to the Opposition, to democracy and to the Irish people.

Hear, hear.

Yesterday, the Taoiseach took a sledgehammer to the rules and procedures of the Dáil and was assisted in this task by the Ceann Comhairle. Yesterday, the person responsible for safeguarding the Dáil's democratic processes led the charge on behalf of the Government's agenda.

Hear, hear.

The Ceann Comhairle bulldozed Dáil rules to get the Government's plan over the line to protect the very deal that put her in her position.

Hear, hear.

A deal brokered by her mentor, Deputy Lowry, who sat smiling and giving the two fingers to the people of Ireland while the chaos unfolded.

A Cheann Comhairle, you took a wrecking ball to Dáil procedure to facilitate this charade.

Hear, hear.

You even got a thumbs up from the Government Chief Whip for all your efforts.

Hear, hear.

The Ceann Comhairle failed to hold a vote to agree Dáil Business when a vote was called. You dumped promised legislation; and in your rush to ram through the Government motion, you only called a vote on an amendment and not on a substantive motion but still declared the Government motion had been passed.

Hear, hear.

This was farcical, a clear breach of Dáil rules. It was unprecedented and it was unacceptable.

Hear, hear.

Your actions yesterday, a Cheann Comhairle, were demonstrably partisan and lacked the partiality and independence demanded of your position.

Hear, hear.

Who convinced the Ceann Comhairle to play her part in this disgraceful charade, or is it simply that bias for the Government is baked into the very deal that secured her position? That is now the question.

Hear, hear.

Thaispeáin an Ceann Comhairle nach bhfuil sí neamhchlaonta nó neamhspleách. Thacaigh sí go daingean leis an Rialtas chun an beart aiféalach le Michael Lowry a chosaint. Ní féidir léi leanúint ar aghaidh sa phost. Caithfidh sí imeacht.

A Cheann Comhairle, not alone have you lost the confidence of the entire Opposition, you have in fact decimated it-----

Hear, hear.

-----and the Dáil cannot function properly while you remain in the Chair.

Hear, hear.

Above all, the Ceann Comhairle must be impartial, fair and independent. By your actions, you have demonstrated that you are not. Your position is therefore untenable. I ask you to reflect very carefully on this because you need to go.

Hear, hear.