Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has accused Sinn Fein of having a policy of “shouting down or suing” the media and other political parties.
Sinn Fein has faced criticism in recent weeks after party TD Chris Andrews took legal action against Irish Times journalist Harry McGee.
The party’s leader Mary Lou McDonald has previously defended the right of individual Sinn Fein politicians to take action against the press in a manner they deem appropriate, including suing the media.
Ms McDonald has also been accused of mounting a strategic lawsuit against public participation (Slapp) against members of the media, a claim she has rejected.
Slapps are often characterised as lawsuits, sometimes disguised as defamation actions, initiated with the intention of silencing or draining the resources of a journalist or publication.
On Wednesday, Mr Varadkar told the opposition party that he would not let it “take away our democracy through threats”.
After being interrupted by Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy during Leaders’ Questions, Mr Varadkar said: “May I speak? May I speak? It’s a very clear and consistent approach with Sinn Fein towards the Government, towards other opposition parties, towards the media: Shout them down or sue them.
“This is a parliament, this is a democracy and I’m going to be heard.”
The Taoiseach had been responding to a question from Ms McDonald on the Government’s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict when he was interrupted.
He said: “It is a serious issue, so may I be heard without being threatened legal action or being shouted down, would that be possible?
“This is still a democracy, deputy, and we’re not going to let you take away our democracy through threats or your activities, I can guarantee you that.”
In a later exchange, Mr Varadkar also accused Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns of “hectoring” him.
After Ms Cairns said Ireland could use its influence to persuade the EU to suspend a trade deal with Israel, Mr Varadkar said: “There is an opportunity for us to play a role in making sure the European Union has a more active policy in this area but we have to be credible in that regard and we have to work with our allies and not hector them.
“The deputy’s approach again hectoring me. That is how she would behave at a European Council meeting, she would go in there, she’d hector people, she’d point the finger, she’d leave already, she’d do a press release, big press conference, make herself look good but ultimately achieve nothing for, nothing for Ireland, nothing for the Palestinians.”
Moving the debate onto the next speaker, Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail said: “Can we have a little order and can we please, please show a little respect?”
