Gormless goings-on from Mickey-D?

Is it true? Did Mícheál McDowell last week really throw a gormless insult at Gormley the Green? Well, he certainly said this:

I am not acquainted with the websites that Deputy Gormley stares at in the early hours of the morning, but one of them, www.indymedia.ie, has in the past produced interesting footage. On this occasion, it produced footage — from outside — of the Progressive Democrats Party offices being ransacked by a group of Deputy Gormley’s type of people.

That’s right. It happened during a Dáil debate on Garda Deployment.

John Gormley had asked a question of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the number of Gardaí deployed for the two refuelling stops made by George Dubya Bush at Shannon recently (Gormley also made this query in relation to “other security personnel”); the costs of those arrangements; and the number of Gardaí at the aborted “Love Ulster” rally in Dublin on 25th February and the respective costs.

He also asked if Minister McDowell would make a statement on the matter. I bet he’s sorry he did.

McDowell responded to the question, and some remarks were exchanged, relating to the matter. But then.. Oh, then… (Poor John..) Mickely-D, as ever, resorted to schoolboy debating tactics (a debating standard of mind-numbing immaturity, favoured by all the members of the House(s)) and pounced on the pinko…

Mr. Gormley: If the Garda has such resources at its disposal, why was not it not possible to monitor the Internet traffic that showed there would be trouble in Dublin? I have seen the sites telling people not to go into town because there would be trouble on Parnell Square. I do not understand how the Minister and Garda Síochána did not know about this in advance.

Mr. McDowell: I am not acquainted with the websites that Deputy Gormley stares at in the early hours of the morning, but one of them, www.indymedia.ie, has in the past produced interesting footage. On this occasion, it produced footage — from outside — of the Progressive Democrats Party offices being ransacked by a group of Deputy Gormley’s type of people.

Mr. Gormley: That remark is out of line.

Mr. McDowell: It made interesting viewing. We downloaded it and sent it to the Garda for investigation.

Mr. Gormley: The Minister cannot abuse Dáil privilege by making serious allegations against me. He is out of order. I would not condone any such behaviour and I politely ask him to withdraw his remark.

Mr. McDowell: I am merely saying that the party and viewpoint with which most people, including me, would most closely associate the anoraked group which descended on my party’s offices would be the Deputy’s.

Mr. Costello: The Minister is confusing Deputy Gormley’s supporters with the Taoiseach’s followers.

Mr. Gormley: His comments are outrageous. He has abused Dáil privilege in the past to engage in this kind of slur. He misled——

Aw.

And Jim O’Keeffe was no help to poor Johnny-G, but Fianna Fáil’s reliable old Rory O’Hanlon (who also, incidentally, is Chair of the House) brought out his government loyalites once again (for the million-billion-squillionth time since he got the job as Ceann Comhairle):

Mr. J. O’Keeffe: Deputy Gormley should not take the Minister seriously. His behaviour is par for the course.

An Ceann Comhairle: My understanding is that the House is debating a priority question for which the time has concluded.

Mr. Gormley: On a point of order, the Ceann Comhairle cannot allow a Minister to behave in this fashion. He has cast a slur by making a serious, outrageous allegation.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy may not make statements during questions.

Mr. Gormley: The Minister misled the House on 12 December and had done so on other occasions. He abuses Dáil privilege on a regular basis and has nothing but contempt for the House. He should disown the disgraceful remarks he made.

An Ceann Comhairle: That is not a point of order.

To which Mickely-ickely-oodily responded, and concluded the debate:

Mr. McDowell: There was muesli in the air and open-toed sandals on the street.

Ah.. Good times…