Michael Lowry

Dear Tipperary North voter, I’m furious with you for foisting Michael Lowry on us all

Lowry’s One Foot in the Gravy Train episode has surely dragged the scales from the eyes of voters who have re-elected him in the 14 years since the Moriarty Tribunal

No sheepishness as Katie Hannon decries bleating TDs

Radio: Liveline guest host adoitly covers Dáil speaking-time fiasco as political divisions are laid bare on Drivetime

Ceann Comhairle no confidence motion ‘a bit rich’ given Opposition’s behaviour in Dáil, says Taoiseach

Opposition has objected to inclusion of controversial new speaking time slots for coalition-supporting Independents and Government backbenchers on Dáil schedule

‘I at all times followed correct procedures’: Verona Murphy to resist Opposition no-confidence motion

Debate and vote scheduled to oust Ceann Comhairle who has ‘impartially adhered to my solemn undertakings ... through the House to the Irish people’

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy to face no-confidence vote next week as she denies Opposition claims

Bitter row over speaking rights dominated Dáil for second day as three opposition leaders called for Ms Murphy’s resignation

The Irish Times view on Verona Murphy: confidence ebbs in a house divided

In their eagerness to copperfasten an impregnable majority, Government parties unwittingly set a booby trap for themselves

Verona Murphy’s survival as Ceann Comhairle hinges on two questions

Explainer: Can Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy endure sustained attack? And when the Opposition loses the no-confidence vote, what will its next move be?

‘I fully intend to continue’: Verona Murphy rejects ‘unfounded allegations’ of partiality and ‘will remain’ as Ceann Comhairle

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy responds as Opposition publishes no-confidence motion

Opposition loses confidence in Verona Murphy as the Lowry deal haunts Government

Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan

Michael Lowry gives masterclass in smug ingratitude amid Dáil chaos over speaking time

Two-digit TD for Tipperary gloated dismissively as Opposition raged over Ceann Comhairle’s decision to bring Dáil confrontation over speaking rights to abrupt end

Opposition leaders stop short of no confidence motion in Verona Murphy

Opposition stops short of tabling motion of no confidence in Ceann Comhairle following her decision to push through vote on controversial changes

‘Shame, shame, shame’: Opposition leaders accuse Coalition of giving ‘two fingers’ to democracy in row over speaking rights

Combined Opposition leaders have accused the Coalition of giving “two fingers” to democracy

Further Dáil clashes loom over Government plan to facilitate Lowry group

Opposition leaders meet over latest offer of speaking time for Government-supporting Independents

Who is Kevin Phelan?

Businessman was key figure in Moriarty tribunal’s lengthy investigation into financial links between Michael Lowry and Denis O’Brien

Key Moriarty tribunal figure Kevin Phelan being prosecuted for pension fraud in trial at Leeds court

Northern Irish businessman pleads not guilty to ‘conspiracy to cheat’ over scheme offered to UK policyholders

Government plan to push through changes to Dáil speaking rights criticised as ‘brazen’ and ‘outrageous’

Long-running dispute centres on efforts to carve out speaking time for a small group of Independents involved in Government-formation talks

Taoiseach rejects claim of stalling over Oireachtas committees to protect Michael Lowry group

Sinn Féin leader says Dáil in ‘cold storage’ and that Government’s priority is ‘money for junior Ministers’

Government’s speaking-rights stroke is hardly an existential threat to democracy

The world is a changed place and Ireland must figure out how to deal with those changes. Would it not be an idea to have some debate about this in the national parliament?

‘An ugly lack of respect:’ How a row over a small group of Independent TDs has darkened the Dáil’s atmosphere

Another effort to resolve the increasingly bitter Dáil speaking rights controversy ended in disarray this week. Where to now?

Opposition to withdraw Dáil ‘pairing’ arrangements in row over ‘dangerous’ speaking rights plans

Fiery Dáil exchanges over impasse as promise of solution dubbed a ‘con’

Trump’s EU tariff threat creates more St Patrick’s Day problems for Micheál Martin

A full-blown trade war could be underway by the time the traditional Washington visit takes place

Taoiseach erupts at Sinn Féin lecturing others about doing the right thing while canonising IRA slaytriots

Ceann Comhairle tells Micheál Martin to stop carrying on like a child following goading by Pearse Doherty over Michael Lowry

Michael Lowry’s actions ‘pale into insignificance’ against IRA, says Martin

Tipperary TD seeking to make personal statement to Dáil, Verona Murphy says

Government will use research on four other parliaments to justify changes to Dáil speaking rights

Government and Opposition whips each insist they will not back down ahead of crunch meeting

Michael Lowry and Dáil speaking rights dominate at home as Europe meets on Ukraine

No resolution to Dáil drama weeks into the new term, with more fireworks possible today

Opposition to block formation of Oireachtas committees if Dáil speaking row not resolved

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has cleared all other items from the agenda of Wednesday’s meeting in bid to end the dispute

Judge agrees to Denis O’Brien’s application for deletion of ‘corruption’ reference

Ms Justice Emily Egan said that she would include a detailed summary of the tribunal’s findings instead

Combined Opposition leaders firmly oppose ‘cynical attempt to manipulate speaking time’ in Dáil

Government proposals to resolve row over speaking rights ‘utterly unacceptable and will not be tolerated’

Just how big is the Government’s majority? TDs from Lowry group muddy the waters

Coalition may be about to find out there are limits to the usefulness of ambiguity

Danny Healy-Rae a lonely figure as Roaring Independents split

Danny Healy-Rae goes solo on Opposition benches after the old band breaks up, and watches his brother Michael hurry around the Government benches

Will Dáil speaking rights row explode again?

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy sought to end impasse but Michael Lowry is not ready to let matter rest

The public may not care who gets to speak in the Dáil, but they do care about being taken for fools

Problem ultimately wasn’t about low-stakes speaking time or terrible political nous: it was over a proposal that utterly failed to pass the bulls**t test

Speaking time row: Michael Lowry calls for Government review of Ceann Comhairle decision

Verona Murphy rules Independent TDs cannot be viewed as members of the Opposition

Ceann Comhairle rules Regional Independents cannot be viewed as members of the Opposition

Ruling appears to present a path to resolving the conflict about speaking time and allowing the Dáil to proceed this week

Dáil speaking rights for Michael Lowry group not ‘black and white issue’, Martin says

Taoiseach Micheál Martin points to precedent and possible future cases in call for compromise

Denis Walsh: Coursing remains deeply divisive but don’t bet on it being banned any time soon

Public are split between revulsion and acceptance but the sport continues to enjoy crucial political support

In a Word ... Politics

It might be argued that some smaller parties were outmanoeuvred in negotiations to form this Government, while others chose to make demands they knew would be refused

Miriam Lord’s Week: ‘What hold does Michael Lowry have over them?’ - the question everyone is asking

No one can figure out why Micheál Martin and Simon Harris are going out on a limb despite his controversial past and divisive Dáil presence

‘Not worth dying in ditch for’: Government losing patience with Michael Lowry over speaking time row

Talks between Government and Opposition parties to defuse row break up amid recriminations

Talks on Dáil speaking time row break up without agreement

Bitter row over speaking rights continues to disrupt Dáil business

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