Dáil suspended twice amid controversy over speaking time

Opposition parties have called for a meeting of the Dáil Business Committee to resolve a dispute over speaking time.

The Dáil has been suspended twice, delaying the nomination of the next taoiseach.

The dispute centres around whether independent TDs who have agreed to support the incoming Government should be allowed to join opposition technical groups for the purposes of speaking time.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has allowed this on an interim basis, adding that she would take submissions on the dispute and make a decision before February 5.

Opposition TDs have also criticised the Government proposal to push back the next sitting of the Dáil to February 5.

Meanwhile, Independent Ireland representatives have argued Ms Murphy has a “conflict of interest” as she had been nominated to the role of Ceann Comhairle by regional independents.

'No controversy'

Incoming junior minister Michael Healy-Rae rejected claims that “controversy” surrounds members of the Regional Independents Group seeking speaking time in the Dáil on the opposition benches.

Arriving at Leinster House in Dublin, he said: “There is no controversy because, if things were to be different there would actually be a change made to what exists already, because in 2016 there was a confidence-and-supply arrangement.

“Fianna Fáil were supporting the government at that time but then they were also raising issues on the floor of the Dáil.

“In 2022 you had TDs who were supporting the government and they were also entitled to stand up and raise issues on the floor of the Dáil, so this whole controversy, as far as I can see, what they are looking for is to change things to make them different as to what they were.

“The system that is there allows for this to happens and what the Ceann Comhairle is doing is allowing that to continue.

“There is nothing unusual about it, that a person supports the government and at the same time they have the right and entitlement to stand up in in the Dáil and ask questions and raise issues about that government.”

'Brazen actions'

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has criticised the decision to allow members of the Regional Independent Group to sit on opposition benches.

She hit out at the “brazen actions” of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael over the decision.

Labour, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit have also criticised the decision to allow members of the Independent Regional Group to be allocated opposition speaking time.

Labour’s Duncan Smith said the public is angry about the arrangement.

“They are really angry. And I would like you, Ceann Comhairle, to commit a deadline as to when you will make an adjudication upon the joint opposition submission on this matter and make a decision that is in the goodness of the entire parliament and every member in this House.

“Us in opposition believe there is only one answer to that question,” he said.

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the arrangement was “ludicrous”.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said it was a “farcical start” to the new Dáil term.

Dáil suspended

The Dáil was subsequently suspended for 15 minutes by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy before any candidate for taoiseach could be nominated.

It followed a series of interruptions and a lengthy dispute over speaking rights.

Several Sinn Féin representatives had objected to Government parties receiving more speaking time in the order of business.

In particular, they noted that Sinn Féin had received more seats than Fine Gael in the election.

Sinn Féin chief whip Padraig Mac Lochlainn had called for the Dáil to be suspended for an urgent meeting of the Business Committee over the dispute.

As Mr Mac Lochlainn’s party colleague Matt Carthy continued making objections, Ms Murphy said she would suspend the Dáil for 15 minutes. She made the decision after Mr Carthy did not return to his seat and the suspension was not for Sinn Féin’s request of a meeting of the Business Committee.

Upon the resumption of the Dáil after a suspension, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy said she would deal with the dispute over speaking time “expeditiously”.

She said this meant before February 5, when the Dáil is planned to return after today’s proceedings.

Following further disruptions relating to the speaking-time dispute from members of Sinn Féin and People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, Ms Murphy suspended the Dáil for a further 30 minutes.