Coppinger’s Dáil display sets a very worrying tone for debate on abortion

WE’VE witnessed another week in Irish politics where personality trumped substance with a remarkable sense of ease.

The unholy spat between two of Dáil Éireann’s most impressive debaters may have made a fine spectacle as far as the TV cameras were concerned.

However, it did nothing to persuade families the length and breadth of the country that this particular Dáil will steer clear of the type of charades, insults and loutish behaviour of recent years.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar knew well that by likening Mary Lou McDonald to the far-right leader in France, Marine Le Pen, he was guaranteed to get under the skin of the Sinn Féin party while generating catchy media headlines at the same time.

Ms McDonald – the Queen of Dáil stunts – equally knew that by walking over to confront the Taoiseach following a row over Northern Ireland, she was throwing herself once again into the centre of controversy. The Dublin Central TD’s antics are right up there with her infamous protest in November 2014 that brought the day’s business to a halt. The whole affair was both petty and childish and shows the public that our most senior leaders are often unwilling to treat with respect issues of such importance as the dire political situation facing Stormont. But it was the behaviour of another prominent female politician that proved even more mind-boggling this week. On Wednesday, Dublin West TD Ruth Coppinger tackled the Taoiseach over why he has yet to formulate his view on the upcoming abortion referendum.

“The Taoiseach said that he is not even sure how he will vote and that he will not direct his party members,” Ms Coppinger sneered.

“He has had more positions on abortion than he has had different coloured socks.”

The left wing TD, who recently wore a ‘Repeal the Eighth’ T-shirt in the chamber, continued her attack, saying that Mr Varadkar should have a “more developed” view on the thorny subject of abortion given his qualification as a doctor.

It is both farcical and irresponsible for one of our own legislators to demand that people make up their mind on one of the most divisive issues in a generation before the Oireachtas publishes the wording of the question. Her contribution contained the clear undertone that holding reservations about potential changes to our abortion laws is somehow unacceptable.

Ms Coppinger (inset) herself recently spoke of the importance of “honesty in politics”.

The Taoiseach is being honest in this case – but it seems this is not good enough for his constituency rival.