Allegations about knee-cappings, dodgy developers and voting irregularities spilled onto the floor of the Dáil as political leaders warmed up for an election.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin went toe-to-toe yesterday over the expenses and voting scandals that have engulfed their parties.

But when Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty accused them of acting like children, Mr Martin turned on him saying: "I have never believed in the process of kneecapping people before asking questions."

Amid complaints from Mr Doherty that the statement was "absolutely scandalous", the Fianna Fáil leader added: "I am not talking about Deputy Doherty but about the movement that he supported for years. That was its modus operandi when asking questions."

Mr Doherty shouted back: "Maybe if the deputy wants to talk about where Fianna Fáil put the donations it received from the dodgy developers, I will give way."

The rowdy scenes started when Mr Varadkar claimed there is a "cloud of suspicion" hanging over Fianna Fáil TDs being investigated by the Dáil ethics committee.

The Taoiseach raised the latest 'Votegate' controversy to hit Fianna Fáil Brexit spokesperson Lisa Chambers. She is the subject of a complaint to the Dáil ethics committee after the 'Sunday Independent' revealed footage showing her in fellow TD Timmy Dooley's seat during a 50-minute Dáil sitting in which seven votes were cast last January.

Mr Varadkar asked the Fianna Fáil leader if Ms Chambers, Mr Dooley, and Niall Collins, as well as Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, who was embroiled in controversy over old tweets during the recent Dáil by-election, would be ratified as election candidates.

Mr Martin demanded to know the nature of the investigation that will be carried out into former Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy and the controversy over his double-jobbing.

Mr Varadkar said he has held talks with Mr Murphy about referring himself to the Dáil ethics committee for an inquiry into his claiming of allowances and expenses while being largely absent from the Dáil for the past two years.

Mr Varadkar told the Dáil that he and his advisers held talks on a "number of options as to how an inquiry could be carried out".

Irish Independent