Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy will survive a no-confidence motion on Tuesday, but the Dáil could be plunged into yet another crisis.
The Dáil has for the first time in its history seen a motion of no confidence tabled on the Ceann Comhairle following last week's passage of new Dáil speaking time rules. The Opposition has claimed that Ms Murphy did not adhere to Dáil procedures, in a manner that favoured the Government.
The combined opposition parties on Wednesday formally agreed to introduce a motion of no confidence in Ms Murphy, with a one-line declaration stating that the “Ceann Comhaire no longer retains the confidence of all members of Dáil Éireann”.
The Government on Monday tabled a counter motion of confidence in Ms Murphy, which is expected to pass comfortably.
The vote to introduce the Government's proposed new rules - which introduces a new Dáil speaking slot for government backbenchers and independents such as Michael Lowry - passed by 94 to 74 votes and government sources stressed that they do not foresee Tuesday's vote being any different.
The opposition has not clarified if they will continue to disrupt the Dáil if Ms Murphy remains as Ceann Comhairle, or if they will legally challenge the way the motion to change the Dáil speaking time rules was passed.
In response to the motion, Ms Murphy rejected the calls for her to resign, saying she fully intends to continue to carry out the role to which she was elected in December.
"I have loyally, scrupulously, and impartially adhered to my solemn undertakings made to the House, and through the House to the Irish people," Ms Murphy said.
However, it is not certain that the vote will draw a line under the protracted row, with Opposition sources saying that their co-operation with the formation of Oireachtas committees "remains uncertain". Committees form an important part of the legislative work of the Dáil and are divided up among parties on a proportional basis.
However, some in the Opposition have voiced concerns about how this might be done in light of the regional group of independents not being considered members of the Government.
"There has to be a fair system for the committees to work, otherwise relations (between the Opposition and Ceann Comhairle) might never recover," one source said.
While Ms Murphy has not publicly addressed the issue, she told a class of students in her native Wexford that it was not true that she had acted on the Government's behalf. In a video posted to social media, Ms Murphy tells students:
"The Opposition's premise is that I did what the Government asked me to. That is not true, couldn't be further from the truth. I didn't speak to anyone in government. I made the decision to do the business of the house which was to put a vote through.
"All I did was institute the process. The Opposition didn't like it because they knew it was going to fail. I don't work for the Government."
Read More
Taoiseach 'genuinely taken aback by behaviour of opposition' in Dáil speaking rights row
Oireachtas webcasting is provided by the Houses of the Oireachtas Service, in association with HEAnet, Ireland's National Educational and Research Network.
