Shane Ross: Dismal day for the Dáil as Michael Lowry pulls off a masterstroke

It was Michael Lowry’s finest hour. On Wednesday afternoon, his protegee, Verona Murphy, strode across the floor of the Dáil heading for the Ceann Comhairle’s chair to take her place among Ireland’s most revered parliamentarians. Michael Lowry, no stranger to ­political manoeuvres, had pulled off the most brilliant political stroke in living memory.

Taoiseach-in-waiting Micheál Martin had bowed the knee, tánaiste-to-be Simon Harris had rolled over..