War nearly broke out in Leinster House on Thursday morning as Tánaiste Micheál Martin and People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy had a flaming row over neutrality.
During the sharp exchange, the Fianna Fáil leader initially refused to withdraw comments suggesting People Before Profit would put the “jackboot on people” if it were ever in Government.
Mr Martin was taking questions in the Dáil in his capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
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The Government will hold a number of consultative forums next week in Cork, Galway and Dublin about the future of Ireland’s neutrality.
Mr Murphy criticised the speakers at the events. He also accused the Tánaiste of being “worked up” over a question from his party colleague Mick Barry in which he described the events as “pro-NATO jamboree”.
Mr Murphy said: “The list of invited speakers gives the game away to an extreme degree. “You have one anti-war speaker in the form of Roger Cole and multiple people who are on record as being in favour of joining NATO, have links to NATO themselves and so on. Does this not just give the entire game away?”
The Tánaiste hit back at Mr Murphy as he accused him of suggesting that people he did not agree with should not speak at the event.
He accused him of “personalising” the debate as he suggested he had also made comments about the forum’s chairperson.
He replied: “It is a sickening form of politics that you engage in, Deputy Murphy. I find it abhorrent.
“But a more sinister element behind it is to snuff out debate. You talk about freedom of speech and so on in Tunisia. You're nowhere near that, I'm not suggesting that.
“But what you are trying to suggest is certain people can't speak because they have a view. “That is what you're saying. They should not be allowed to speak. If there is up to 50 or 60 speakers, if one or two have views that are contrary to Deputy Murphy or Deputy [Richard] Boyd Barrett, they should not speak.
“That is intolerance. You guys are no great advocates of freedom of speech at all.
“I shudder to think of the day when you would never be an authority. Because by God would you put the jackboot on people who might have views different to yours.”
A jackboot is used as a symbol of cruel or authoritarian behaviour or rule.
Mr Murphy and Leas Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly both asked the Tánaiste to withdraw the comment, but Mr Martin initially said he would not.
Following another back and forth between Mr Martin and Mr Murphy, Ms Connolly asked the Tánaiste to “reflect” on his use of the word jackboot.
“I don’t think it is unparliamentary language,” Mr Martin said.
“I’d like to test that. I don’t think it is unparliamentary language.
“I didn't say they were putting the jackboot in. I said it in the future…
“But in the instance of civility, I take back the work jackboot.”
Mr Martin later said that he wanted the “issue of freedom of speech in parliament” referred to the Dáil procedures committee.
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