Paul Murphy: Accuses Chief Whip of Breaking Democratic Rules
Paul Murphy criticised the government's handling of parliamentary procedure, accusing the Chief Whip, Keown Korla, of deliberately and repeatedly breaking standing orders and denying votes. He said this represented a narrow view of democracy that sidelines minority and opposition rights and amounted to creeping authoritarianism.
Murphy said the rules which protect minority and opposition rights were deliberately, consciously and repeatedly broken by Keown Korla last week, and that it was her job to protect those rules but she broke them one after the other.
He pointed to several procedural incidents: a vote called on the order of business where no vote was granted; the government's own proposal for standing orders not being voted on and simply deemed passed; and the day's agenda being ripped up, including a government backbench first-stage bill being effectively forgotten.
Murphy argued the government's approach reflected an incredibly narrow view of what democracy means, paraphrasing the Chief Whip with the phrase "We won, you lost, we can do whatever we want" and asking where the space remains for the rights of minorities and the opposition.
He accused the government of creeping authoritarianism, saying it is a right-wing government, without a mudguard, preparing to ram through a series of highly unpopular measures, and warned that street politics may ultimately be the response.
Allegations of broken rules
Murphy said the rules which protect minority and opposition rights were deliberately, consciously and repeatedly broken by Keown Korla last week, and that it was her job to protect those rules but she broke them one after the other.
Incidents cited in the Dáil
He pointed to several procedural incidents: a vote called on the order of business where no vote was granted; the government's own proposal for standing orders not being voted on and simply deemed passed; and the day's agenda being ripped up, including a government backbench first-stage bill being effectively forgotten.
Democratic principles and minority rights
Murphy argued the government's approach reflected an incredibly narrow view of what democracy means, paraphrasing the Chief Whip with the phrase "We won, you lost, we can do whatever we want" and asking where the space remains for the rights of minorities and the opposition.
Warning on authoritarianism and street politics
He accused the government of creeping authoritarianism, saying it is a right-wing government, without a mudguard, preparing to ram through a series of highly unpopular measures, and warned that street politics may ultimately be the response.
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Transcript
Thanks. What we've heard from the government benches is an incredibly narrow view of what democracy means. You could paraphrase the Chief Whip. We won, you lost, we can do whatever we want. I'm sorry, that is not democracy. Where is the space in that for the rights of minorities? Where is the space in that for the rights of opposition? And the rules which protect those rights were deliberately, consciously, repeatedly broken by the Keown Korla last week. It's her job to protect those rules, to ensure that they are abided by, but instead she broke them, one after the other. The unprecedented situation of a vote being called on the order of business and no vote being granted. Incredible, unprecedented situation of the government's own proposal for standing orders not actually being voted upon and simply deemed being passed. And the agenda simply being ripped up for the day, including a government backbench first stage bill simply forgotten about. The government is right to draw the comparison with authoritarianism internationally. Creeping authoritarianism. Absolutely. They're the ones who are engaged in it. Why? Because it's a right-wing government, without a mudguard, that is preparing to ram through a series of highly unpopular measures. You're right to be afraid about the prospect of street politics, because it is street politics that will ultimately beat you.