The Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, has chosen not to escalate his confrontation with Mr Pat Rabbitte, despite the Labour leader's refusal to withdraw his claims that the chair of the Dáil is "congenitally incapable of fairness".
Dr O'Hanlon said yesterday his position as Ceann Comhairle would be "severely undermined" if the record was left stand after Mr Rabbitte's "outburst" but he did not repeat his demand that Mr Rabbitte withdraw his remarks.
Hours earlier on RTÉ's Morning Ireland Mr Rabbitte had reiterated the claim that Dr O'Hanlon protects Cabinet members in the Dáil by restricting the Opposition "when the Government is at risk".
"The fact remains that it's not possible in Dáil Éireann any more, when the Government is on the hazard, to pursue your point," he said. Mr Rabbitte had left the chamber on Wednesday after he refused to withdraw his claim that Dr O'Hanlon was "the most partisan chair this House has ever had". The remarks during Mr Rabbitte's questioning of the Minister for Agriculture prompted a five-minute suspension of Dáil business, during which Mr Rabbitte refused to meet Dr O'Hanlon.
Despite Government demands that Mr Rabbitte apologise to Dr O'Hanlon before returning to the chamber, he was present yesterday morning as Dr O'Hanlon said the attack was "unprecedented and unprovoked" and would not be tolerated in a parliamentary democracy of any standing. He also warned in a statement that any repeat of the attack would not be tolerated "and will lead to the naming of the member concerned notwithstanding his position in his party".
While stating that he would not allow himself to be intimidated or deflected from his duty, Dr O'Hanlon said he did not intend to revisit the matter.
"Since assuming office as Ceann Comhairle - and indeed in my five years as Leas Ceann Comhairle - I have always upheld the rules of this House without fear or favour to the high standards set by my predecessors." Although Mr Rabbitte conceded on radio that he had lost his cool with Dr O'Hanlon, he said "it's a losing of the cool that's been coming for a long time, quite frankly".
"When I was angry yesterday I refused to talk to him and that was improper." Mr Rabbitte said he would talk to Dr O'Hanlon but a Labour spokesman said that neither Mr Rabbitte nor Dr O'Hanlon had sought to contact each other yesterday. Mr Rabbitte said later that he had no wish to find himself "in a situation of conflict with the Ceann Comhairle to whom I bear no personal ill will at all".
He said the "issues raised" would have to be addressed if the Opposition is to be allowed hold the Government to account.
However, he made only an implicit criticism of Dr O'Hanlon in saying that the interests of the Dáil were not furthered if the standing orders were framed "or interpreted" in such a way as to unreasonably prevent the Opposition from carrying out its role.
Dr O'Hanlon made it clear he had not brought the matter further because of Mr Rabbitte's position as Labour leader. "In deference to Deputy Rabbitte's position as leader of his party I chose to suspend the proceedings for five minutes rather than deal with him more directly, as I would have been perfectly entitled to do.
"The tenor of Deputy Rabbitte's remarks represents a marked departure from what would be considered to be an acceptable standard of behaviour in parliament even when issues of heated controversy are before the House, which incidentally was not the case yesterday."
