Dáil resumes after three suspensions

Dáil business has resumed after being delayed for more than an hour, in another row between the Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett and Sinn Féin.

Dáil resumes after three suspensions

Dáil business has resumed after being delayed for more than an hour, in another row between the Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett and Sinn Féin.

Sinn Féin refused to allow business to continue unless Tánaiste Joan Burton withdrew comments made about a sex abuser's Republican background.

The Tánaiste said abuser Domhnall Ó Lubhlaí, a former Gaeltacht teacher, had "significant" links to Republicans and Sinn Féin.

The Dáil was suspended three times in a row, but Sinn Féin has said it will allow Dáil business to continue, while it instead makes a complaint to the Dáil committee on Procedures and Privileges.

The row broke out after Sinn Féin deputy Mary Lou McDonald raised allegations that date from 1955 of sex abuse by Mr Ó Lubhlaí, who died last year.

Ms McDonald asked for a garda review on the case to be passed on to the Child and Family Agency, Tusla.

Ms Burton said it should be raised with the appropriate department as she had been given no notification of it.

She claimed that his connections with the Republican movement were always strongly identified, as far as she heard.

The Tánaiste then said that there has been a problem with paedophilia and sex abuse in the Republican movement.

Sinn Féin accused her of making defamatory remarks against their party amid angry exchanges that lead to the suspension of the Dáil.

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