Irish Green MP Paul Gogarty was not in as much hot water as some commentators thought he would be after he twice used the F-word during a robust debate on the budget. He resorted to what he conceded was “the most unparliamentary language” after being accused of “bleating and blathering” by Labour’s Emmet Stagg. However, it subsequently emerged that the F-word isn’t among those on the list of abusive language Ireland’s lawmakers are not allowed to use. If Mr Gogarty had called Mr Stagg a “buffoon” or “scumbag”, he would have been in real trouble. The Irish Parliament is now to undertake a long overdue review of its rules of conduct.
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