Nolan sharply criticises Sinn Féin during Verona Murphy Dáil debate
Independent Offaly TD Carol Nolan was scathing in her criticism of her former party, Sinn Féin, during this week's Dáil debate ahead of its vote of confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.
On Tuesday Deputy Nolan voted in favour of the Government's motion, "That Dáil Éireann has confidence in the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy."
Last week she backed Government changes to Dáil standing orders on the basis that it would allow her to access guaranteed speaking rights.
Deputy Nolan was first elected to the Dáil as a Sinn Fein representative in 2016, but she left the party two years later over its support for the referendum on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.
As she stood up to speak during the Dáil debate on the Verona Murphy confidence motion on Tuesday, she responded to comments from Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould by saying: "Stop it, will you? Have respect. The Deputies are a disgrace. I spent too long with them."
She said she was supporting the Ceann Comhairle, "from one female politician to another," adding that the Wexford TD "has had more than her fair share of spite and political attacks to contend with, particularly from one party" in the Dáil.
"I will not sit on the fence as others have done while attempts are made to engage in what amounts to a coercive form of democratic vandalism to the constitutional offices of this State," said Deputy Nolan.
"The Ceann Comhairle was elected by the majority of this house, whether Deputies like it or not, and the Ceann Comhairle can only retain her position through a democratically endorsed ballot, whether they like it or not.
"All of us here will not agree on everything, and that is politics and democracy. That is the nature of politics but we are all elected to do our jobs, and we have been unable to do our jobs in this Chamber where it has just been made impossible, as was pointed out by my colleagues, because of the atmosphere, the intimidation and the toxic environment that has been created.
"We should all agree that vicious personal attacks, attempts to undermine and even degrade for the purposes of pathetic political optics are unworthy of this house and the tradition on which it was built.
"The Ceann Comhairle is capable of discharging her duties in a fair and impartial manner, and what has happened here over the past few weeks has been nothing short of an advertisement for women to stay away from Irish political life," she added.
Deputy Nolan also took aim at Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, saying: "It was the Deputies' own dear leader, the feminist herself, who stood up and engaged in shocking behaviour in this House. It was shocking behaviour.
"What an example to lead by. What would that be like in government? What would the country be like? A disgrace. It is shameful."
She said she was voting in support of the confidence motion in Verona Murphy "with a settled and calm conscience" because it was "the right thing do."
Offaly's two other TDs, Fine Gael's John Clendennen and Fianna Fáil's Tony McCormack, voted with their parties in support of the Ceann Comhairle.