A heated row erupted in the Dáil on Tuesday night between Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae and People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy over the gender of the Dublin TD’s child during a debate on the Finance Bill.
The legislation was passed by 75 votes to 55 after the debate was guillotined following a four-hour discussion on the committee stage. The Bill now goes to the Seanad and will be dealt with on Wednesday, paving the way for a general election.
During a discussion on the USC (Universal Social Charge) Mr Healy-Rae called for the tax to be abolished and made a lengthy contribution that ranged from sewage to roads and the cost of climate action. Other TDs intervened and Labour finance spokesman Ged Nash said “there are serious amendments to debate”.
Mr Healy-Rae complained he was being heckled, said the tax was unfair and then hit out at other parties for voting for the carbon tax. “Most of you voted for it in the Chamber except our little group. You all voted for the carbon tax and you said it actually was not enough.”
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Mr Murphy said, “No, we did not, as we point out every single time.”
Mr Healy-Rae then replied: “What do you know? Sure you don’t know whether your own baby is a boy or a girl.”
Mr Murphy retorted: “F**k off,” adding “a***ole. You are a f***ing a***ole.”
When his wife gave birth last year Mr Murphy said in an interview with The Irish Times that the couple had decided to name their child Juniper whether it was a boy or girl and they were not “gendering” their baby.
In the Dáil, Mr Healy-Rae said: “Well, it is the truth. He told it loud. I did not make it up; he told us himself.”
Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe said the Kerry TD’s “remark should be withdrawn”, while Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall said “you are a disgrace”.
Mr Nash said “there should be an apology to Deputy Murphy and his family”.
When Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl called for order, Mr Nash said: “This nonsense is tolerated far too much. It is personalised and it is insulting.”
The Ceann Comhairle called on Mr Healy-Rae to “withdraw the remark about Deputy Murphy’s family, please. It was personal and inappropriate.”
The Kerry TD said, “It is the truth but if it will please you, I will withdraw it. It is for the individual itself that I am concerned.”
Ms Shortall told him: “You are a disgrace. Stay quiet.”
Mr Nash told him “That is a qualified withdrawal. You are an a***ole.”
Later Mr Murphy said Mr Healy-Rae had suggested his party did “not know where money comes from”. He said “money is wealth generated by workers. It is not generated by millionaires like you, Deputy Healy Rae.”
The Kerry TD said: “I am no millionaire. Withdraw that now because I can prove to everyone here I am not a millionaire.”
Mr Murphy: “Okay, your brother is a millionaire. I apologise. No problem.”
Mr Healy-Rae responded: “I cannot say yes or no about that because I do not know.”
The Ceann Comhairle pleaded with the two TDs: “Please, can we stop.”
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