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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Political dispute over Northern Ireland

Summary

A heated exchange concerns poverty, welfare cuts, public-sector jobs and political responsibility in Northern Ireland, with repeated interruptions and rulings that the matter is outside the Order of Business.

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. On behalf of the Seanad, Senator Diarmuid Wilson represented the all-party group. I appreciate the time and shall finish where my contribution was cut-off yesterday. I am surprised that the Leas-Chathaoirleach has asked me to move on, but I am also surprised by the comment made by Senator Rose Conway-Walsh. The highest rate of child poverty in the United Kingdom can be found in west Belfast which is where Sinn Féin is at its strongest.

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The Senator is very interested in the North.

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When Senator Catherine Ardagh spoke, nobody interrupted her. I let Senators talk, without interruption.

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Paul Coghlan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fine Gael

I do not want the Senator to invite interruptions and urge him to address the Chair.

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Nobody answered when Senator Rose Conway-Walsh spoke. Fianna Fáil never heckled her; therefore, I ask for a little fairness.

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Paul Coghlan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fine Gael

I do not want anybody to heckle anybody else.

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We are not heckling.

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As a result of the fact that Sinn Féin Senators do not want to put up their hands and say something constructive, they piggy-back on everything else. I am very disappointed at such behaviour.

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The Senator does not care about west Belfast.

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In order to hold on to power in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin has cut carer's benefits and returned the matter of disability assessment to Westminster; plus, 20,000 public service jobs were cut.

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Before Sinn Féin lectures us-----

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I wish to raise a point of order.

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-----and starts talking about Fianna Fáil-----

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Paul Coghlan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fine Gael

I am sorry, Senator, but I must hear a point of order; that is, if it is a point of order.

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The statement made by Senator Aidan Davitt to the effect that 20,000 public sector jobs were cut is inaccurate.

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Paul Coghlan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fine Gael

That is not a point of order.

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The statement is inaccurate and should be withdrawn.

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Paul Coghlan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fine Gael

A point of order can be made to provide procedural clarification.

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Paul Coghlan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fine Gael

The Senators are all interrupting one another unnecessarily. I ask Senator Aidan Davitt to wind up his contribution as his time is nearly up.

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I did not interrupt anyone.

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Paul Coghlan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fine Gael

I appreciate that.

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Before Sinn Féin Senators come in here and line their eyes up on Fianna Fáil, they should look into their hearts and consider how their party is doing in the case of Northern Ireland.

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Paul Coghlan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fine Gael

I do not want to discuss things that are outside this jurisdiction.

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