I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the amendment in the name of Deputy Catherine Murphy to the motion regarding the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998. On Wednesday, 23 June 2021, on the question, "That the amendment to the motion be agreed to", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 80(2), that division must be taken now.
Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (Resumed)
The following motion was moved by the Minister for Justice on Wednesday, 23 June 2021:
That Dáil Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2021 and ending on 29th June, 2022.
Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:
To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:
- resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2021 and ending on 29th June, 2022; and
- in the absence of any specific information being presented which points to the inadequacy of the ordinary courts in the administration of justice in Ireland with specific regard to offences listed under sections 6 to 9 and 12 of that Act, and acknowledging the views of multiple national and international human rights agencies that have raised serious concerns regarding the operation of the Special Criminal Court, resolves to proactively and progressively implement societal and justice reform measures which, within a specified period of time being no later than 2025, ensure that section 14 of that Act should not continue in operation after that date.
- (Deputy Catherine Murphy)
Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 21; Níl, 77; Staon, 8.
Tá
- Barry, Mick.
- Boyd Barrett, Richard.
- Canney, Seán.
- Collins, Joan.
- Gannon, Gary.
- Harkin, Marian.
- Healy-Rae, Michael.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Kelly, Alan.
- Kenny, Gino.
- Murphy, Catherine.
- Murphy, Paul.
- Nash, Ged.
- O'Callaghan, Cian.
- Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
- Pringle, Thomas.
- Shanahan, Matt.
- Shortall, Róisín.
- Smith, Bríd.
- Smith, Duncan.
- Whitmore, Jennifer.
Níl
- Berry, Cathal.
- Browne, James.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Burke, Colm.
- Burke, Peter.
- Butler, Mary.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Jackie.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Cannon, Ciarán.
- Carey, Joe.
- Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Collins, Niall.
- Costello, Patrick.
- Coveney, Simon.
- Cowen, Barry.
- Creed, Michael.
- Crowe, Cathal.
- Devlin, Cormac.
- Dillon, Alan.
- Donnelly, Stephen.
- Donohoe, Paschal.
- Duffy, Francis Noel.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- English, Damien.
- Farrell, Alan.
- Feighan, Frankie.
- Flaherty, Joe.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Fleming, Sean.
- Foley, Norma.
- Griffin, Brendan.
- Harris, Simon.
- Haughey, Seán.
- Heydon, Martin.
- Higgins, Emer.
- Hourigan, Neasa.
- Humphreys, Heather.
- Kehoe, Paul.
- Lahart, John.
- Lawless, James.
- Leddin, Brian.
- MacSharry, Marc.
- Martin, Catherine.
- Matthews, Steven.
- McAuliffe, Paul.
- McConalogue, Charlie.
- McGrath, Michael.
- McHugh, Joe.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
- Murphy, Verona.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Noonan, Malcolm.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Brien, Joe.
- O'Callaghan, Jim.
- O'Connor, James.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Donnell, Kieran.
- O'Donovan, Patrick.
- O'Dowd, Fergus.
- O'Gorman, Roderic.
- O'Sullivan, Christopher.
- O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
- Ó Cathasaigh, Marc.
- Ó Cuív, Éamon.
- Phelan, John Paul.
- Rabbitte, Anne.
- Richmond, Neale.
- Ring, Michael.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Smyth, Niamh.
- Smyth, Ossian.
- Troy, Robert.
Staon
- Buckley, Pat.
- Crowe, Seán.
- Donnelly, Paul.
- Ellis, Dessie.
- Guirke, Johnny.
- Mythen, Johnny.
- Ryan, Patricia.
- Stanley, Brian.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall; Níl, Deputies Brendan Griffin and Jack Chambers.
Deputy Holly Cairns did not vote in this division due to an agreed pairing arrangement with Minister Helen McEntee for the duration of the Minister’s maternity leave.
Amendment declared lost.
Can I call for a walk-through vote?
We are in the middle of a vote but, besides that, a walk-through vote cannot be called when the difference is greater than ten. It is not allowed under Standing Orders. Is í an cheist ag an bpointe seo ná-----
I want to point out that the Sinn Féin party abstained on that last vote.
We have to show a little respect for the process.
I wonder why the Sinn Féin party has left the building. Is there a fire we do not know about?
The Deputy is abusing the process and I say that very reluctantly. We are in the middle of a vote here. I ask for the Deputy's co-operation.
(Interruptions).
I want to know why Sinn Féin Members have left the building rather than come in and carry out their democratic duty in the national Parliament on a matter as serious as this.
Deputy Fleming is the second Deputy-----
They have left the building. This must be highlighted. They have abandoned the national Parliament in favour of their own political agenda. This must be highlighted.
(Interruptions).
This is one of the rare occasions on which I have risen to my feet. We are in the middle of a vote. I will hear no more. I am now on my feet. I am going to sit down. Points of order may not be made in the middle of a vote.
(Interruptions).
I am now proceeding with the vote.
Question put: "That the motion be agreed to."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 87; Níl, 7; Staon, 5.
Tá
- Berry, Cathal.
- Browne, James.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Burke, Colm.
- Burke, Peter.
- Butler, Mary.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Jackie.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Canney, Seán.
- Cannon, Ciarán.
- Carey, Joe.
- Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Collins, Niall.
- Costello, Patrick.
- Coveney, Simon.
- Cowen, Barry.
- Creed, Michael.
- Crowe, Cathal.
- Devlin, Cormac.
- Dillon, Alan.
- Donnelly, Stephen.
- Donohoe, Paschal.
- Duffy, Francis Noel.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- English, Damien.
- Farrell, Alan.
- Feighan, Frankie.
- Fitzpatrick, Peter.
- Flaherty, Joe.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Fleming, Sean.
- Foley, Norma.
- Griffin, Brendan.
- Harkin, Marian.
- Harris, Simon.
- Haughey, Seán.
- Healy-Rae, Michael.
- Heydon, Martin.
- Higgins, Emer.
- Hourigan, Neasa.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Humphreys, Heather.
- Kehoe, Paul.
- Kelly, Alan.
- Lahart, John.
- Lawless, James.
- Leddin, Brian.
- MacSharry, Marc.
- Martin, Catherine.
- Matthews, Steven.
- McAuliffe, Paul.
- McConalogue, Charlie.
- McGrath, Michael.
- McHugh, Joe.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
- Murphy, Verona.
- Nash, Ged.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Noonan, Malcolm.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Brien, Joe.
- O'Callaghan, Jim.
- O'Connor, James.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Donnell, Kieran.
- O'Donovan, Patrick.
- O'Dowd, Fergus.
- O'Gorman, Roderic.
- O'Sullivan, Christopher.
- O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
- Ó Cathasaigh, Marc.
- Ó Cuív, Éamon.
- Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
- Phelan, John Paul.
- Rabbitte, Anne.
- Richmond, Neale.
- Ring, Michael.
- Shanahan, Matt.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Smith, Duncan.
- Smyth, Niamh.
- Smyth, Ossian.
- Troy, Robert.
Níl
- Barry, Mick.
- Boyd Barrett, Richard.
- Collins, Joan.
- Kenny, Gino.
- Murphy, Paul.
- Pringle, Thomas.
- Smith, Bríd.
Staon
- Gannon, Gary.
- Murphy, Catherine.
- O'Callaghan, Cian.
- Shortall, Róisín.
- Whitmore, Jennifer.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Brendan Griffin and Jack Chambers; Níl, Deputies Paul Murphy and Thomas Pringle.
Deputy Holly Cairns did not vote in this division due to an agreed pairing arrangement with Minister Helen McEntee for the duration of the Minister’s maternity leave.
Question declared carried.