Gavan Reilly: Government sinks more time and capital on Lowry. Why?

By the time you read this, Verona Murphy will have survived a motion of confidence and continue as Ceann Comhairle. Is that it, so?

It’s only four months since she was chosen, by secret ballot, in what is ostensibly a test of whether the chair has the backing of the whole house. Opposition TDs could back her if they wanted; government TDs were free not only to vote against her, but even to run against her. Two from Fianna Fáil did so.

Not so this week: the government has tabled a confidence motion in her, thus turning her status into a de facto government appointee, and whippped its TDs to back her in the job. Even John McGuinness and Seán Ó Fearghaíl, who literally ran against her in December, had to vote to keep her there.

Coalition TDs will argue that the cacophony of last week was the fault of the opposition and not the chair - and that Murphy is not responsible for the uproarious behaviour of those TDs who refused to keep the peace. This is true.

But tabling a motion to explicitly support her, and using government time to do it - instead of merely letting the opposition waste their own time on it, and voting it down at the end - gives the clear conclusion that she’s only in the job because the cabinet wants her.

Pair that with the news that broke over the weekend - that the Regional Independent Group will get as many turns in ‘other members’ questions’ as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, despite being only a fraction of the size. Gillian Toole will avail of the ‘other members’ questions’ five times more than, say, Aisling Dempsey.

You’d be forgiven for simply thinking that - despite all the public protestations to the contrary, the Government is bending over backwards for Michael Lowry. And you’d have to wonder why.

Gavan Reilly is Political Correspondent with Virgin Media News and Political Columnist with the Meath Chronicle. Column appears first in Tuesday's paper!