Watch: Furious row sees Dáil suspended as Government accused of 'McCarthyism'
Had There Fleming Aid In International On Neutrality Speaking Puppets' Debate The Minister Seán Been 'putin's
The Government has been accused of "McCarthyism" in a heated Dáil row on neutrality that saw the house suspended.
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett made the charge to International Aid Minister Seán Fleming in a debate on Irish neutrality.
Mr Fleming made and then withdrew a remark there had been "Putin's puppets" speaking in the debate — an accusation taken by People Before Profit to mean party members.
Paul Murphy and Bríd Smith both called on acting Cathaoirleach Michael Ring to force Mr Fleming to withdraw the remark, with Mr Murphy calling it "shameful" and saying he had previously written to the Ceann Comhairle about similar remarks.
"I did not direct my comment at any individual but if the hat fits, you should wear it," Mr Fleming replied.
"That is what you are, puppets for Putin."
Mr Murphy quoted the Salient Rulings of the Chair, a guide for parliamentary procedure and behaviours and said:
"The salient ruling of the Chair, 1417, states members may not say that another member is taking orders or instructions from outside interests or its representatives, or speaking for such interests. That is what "Putin's puppets" means. This is the salient ruling of the Chair. I am asking that you now get him to withdraw the remark. It is very clearly against the rules."
Mr Ring responded that Mr Murphy had "made allegations" of his own which had been allowed.
Mr Ring suspended the house for two minutes, after which Mr Fleming agreed to withdraw his remark.
Mr Boyd Barrett then called the tactic from the Government "McCarthyism", the Cold War era tactic which was also known as The Red Scare.
"The Government has resorted to McCarthyism. That is what we saw here today," Mr Boyd Barrett said.
"We support neither Washington nor Moscow; neither London nor Beijing. We oppose all these empires and imperial military blocks equally. We have a record of it, which frankly is very much better than that of the Government. Fianna Fáil leaders have gone over and hobnobbed with Putin. We never have.
"In fact, we have comrades who are languishing in Russian prisons at the moment because they opposed Putin's bloody war in Ukraine. We just do not happen to believe escalating that conflict to the point of a possible nuclear war is a very good idea."