Dublin TD Joan Collins has accused the Government of ‘not giving a fuck’ during a live debate in the Dáil this afternoon.
She said: “To put it bluntly, the Government just does not give a fuck.”
It will bring back memories for many of that infamous occasion in the Dáil in 2009 when Green TD Paul Gogarty had a row with Labour’s Emmet Stagg and said: “Fuck you Deputy Stagg” repeatedly.
He apologised quickly after on the record of the House.
Ms Collins was delivering her criticism of the budget this afternoon when she noticed there was not many people in the Dáil chamber to hear her speak.
And she complained that nobody was listening to her.
The angry Independent 4 Change TD took this as an insult from the Government and Fianna Fáil and she chose to use the expletive to get her point across.
She said: “Very few deputies from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael are present.
“They are not listening and they do not care.
“Given the number of phone calls I have received from constituents in the past 24 hours, to put it bluntly, the Government just does not give a fuck.
“It is outrageous that it is happening and that people are being subjected to the budget.”
Ms Collins was quickly pulled-up on her colourful language by Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, on Twitter, who accused her of deliberately using the word to catch some publicity.
He said: “Colorful language solely crafted to garner media coverage for otherwise vacuous and empty budget contribution.”
The Dáil’s Leas Ceann Comhairle, Pat the Cope Gallagher, later picked up Ms Collins on her language and asked her to withdraw it, which she did.
Mr Gallagher said: “I noted a few minutes ago that the Deputy was using unparliamentary language - it was a four-letter word.
“In all my years here, it has not been customary to do that.
“Knowing Deputy Collins, I consider that she is above that and should withdraw the word.
Ms Collins replied: “I accept that but I am very angry to see people coming through the door of the constituency office who are on their knees only to have the Government bring out a budget like this.
Mr Gallagher came back again: “We are not going to debate it.
“The Deputy is well able to make her case without using unparliamentary language.
“I take it that she has withdrawn that word.”
And Ms Collins obliged and said: “ I withdraw.”
Many archaic terms, such as chancer, scumbag, guttersnipe, fascist and corner boy are considered unparliamentary language and are banned in Dáil speeches.
If you stray across the line, the Ceann Comhairle will generally intervene and ask for the TD to withdraw his or her previous remark.
But strangely, what many consider to be one of the most offensive words, fuck, is not on the list of banned words.
