The Ceann Comhairle has indicated he had clear Government advice to shut down the Dáil for a week over the Stephen Donnelly coronavirus scare. The Chair received a clear message from the Clerk of the Dáil, Peter Finnegan, that the Government wanted the House adjourned, and acted on that basis. “The request to be conveyed to the Ceann Comhairle was then confirmed with the caller,” the letter to Mr Kelly states. “A senior official subsequently went to the Dáil chamber, conveyed the request to me, and I informed the Dáil of the need to adjourn. The Irish Independent sought comment from Government Chief Whip Jack Chambers on the circumstances outlined in the Ceann Comhairle’s letter to the Labour Party leader.

Source: Irish Independent September 16, 2020 17:37 UTC