WATCH: 'Did you call Deputy McDonald a liar?' - Taoiseach accused of taking advantage in Dáil row
Micheál Martin allegedly called Mary Lou McDonald a liar As Gaeilge
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been accused of calling Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald a liar, As Gaeilge, in the Dáil on Wednesday.
During a heated exchange on housing, the Taoiseach accused Mary Lou McDonald of telling lies, saying,
"Tá an Teachta Dála ag insint bréaga arís", meaning, "The TD is telling lies again".
Td's are restricted from saying another member is guilty of "being deceitful", under the strict rules of the Dáil.
Mary Lou asked for the Taoiseach to withdraw his comments and said that he was "taking advantage" of the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy's lack of Irish.
"The Taoiseach took advantage perhaps of you not following", said McDonald, "He called me a liar. Bhí mé ag insint an Fhirinne", translating to "I was telling the truth".
"He said through Gaeilge so I would like him to remove that from the record, thank you."
The Ceann Comhairle asked the Taoiseach to remove the remarks, if they were in fact said, asking him, "Did you call Deputy McDonald a liar?"
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Dohery then reiterated what Mary Lou McDonald said, saying to the Taoiseach, "You took advantage of the fact the Ceann Comhairle has no Irish...It is absolutely disgraceful."
The Ceann Comhairle then said "I couldn't rule on what I didn't hear", but asked the Taoiseach to remove the comments if he said them.
The Taoiseach said he did not use those words and did not call her a liar.
Members were once again shouting across the room to each other as the Ceann Comhairle asked for some decorum and said they can look back on what was said and get a translation.
She then told Mary Lou McDonald to make a complaint in writing if she wished the matter to be dealt with.