Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was heckled in the Dail chamber over the ongoing Hutch trial as she opposed the nomination of Leo Varakdar for Taoiseach.
The Sinn Fein leader’s name has been mentioned several times in the ongoing Regency Hotel trial in the Special Criminal Court.
McDonald has rejected allegations that she used the Hutch family for money and votes.
READ MORE: Live updates as Leo Varadkar to become Taoiseach for second time with Cabinet changes expected
Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall was secretly recorded making the claims and criticising Ms McDonald for not attending the funeral of the brother of murder accused Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch.
The claims emerged in the Special Criminal Court where Gerry Hutch is on trial for the murder of David Byrne, who was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in February 2016.
During a special Dail sitting on Saturday to nominate Leo Varaddkar for Taoiseach, Ms McDonald called for a general election.
“Deputy Varadkar believes that power puts him beyond accountability,” she said.
“This is the view held by the man who now returns to the office of An Taoiseach, the man who recently told young people who were forced away from Ireland by his policies that the grass is not always greener in other countries.
“This is the man who invited exploited renters to remember that one person’s rent is another person's income. This is the man who advised a generation locked out of home ownership to borrow from their parents for a mortgage deposit, the bank of mammy and daddy.
“These are their views that emphasise loud and clear that Fine Gael and their friends in Fianna Fáil have been empowered for far too long.
“They are out of touch, out of ideas and out of time.
“Micheal Martin has resigned as Taoiseach and the Government is dissolved. We should now have a general election because we need a change of Government.”
Ms McDonald continued: “The touchpaper has been lit by the hopes of a new generation.”
The mention of “touchpaper” led to several heckles from the Government benches of “the Hutch papers”.
The Irish Mirror understands that the heckles were driven by Fine Gael.
There were also some shouts from the Fianna Fail benches about Ms McDonald’s house. It comes following questions in a book by former TD Shane Ross about renovations to her home in Cabra.
Outgoing Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that being leader of the country has been the “honour of a lifetime”.
He nominated Mr Varadkar for Taoiseach, alongside Minister Michael McGrath and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan.
Mr Varadkar will meet President Michael D Higgins to receive his seal of office this afternoon and will later announce his new Cabinet.
READ NEXT :
Sean Rooney remembered as 'kind and caring model soldier' after Lebanon shooting
100ml liquid rule scrapped at Dublin Airport - here's when change will come in
Christmas ham sold at Lidl urgently recalled amid cooking instruction confusion
Wolfe Tones singer praises Argentina for defending team over anti-British chants
Davy Fitz in no doubt Ireland's Fittest Family will be back after axe rumours
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
