Opposition rejects ‘cynical’ Government proposal on Dáil speaking rights

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

A Government proposal to solve a bitter row on parliamentary speaking rights is “utterly unacceptable”, according to the main opposition parties.

There were chaotic scenes and heated rows in the Dáil last month after it was proposed that independent TDs who had supported the formation of the current Government may be allowed to join opposition technical groups for the purposes of speaking time.

The dispute led to the suspension of the house and a delay in Micheál Martin’s nomination as Taoiseach.

Ultimately, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy said she would not recognise the Government-aligned independents as opposition members for the purposes of joining technical groups.

Opposition parties and the Government were invited to make submissions on suggested Dáil reforms, including how to deal with independents who may support Government but do not have ministerial positions.

The opposition has argued for the creation of a “Government-aligned technical group” which would allow those independents to retain speaking rights without using opposition time.

However, the Government has suggested that there should instead be new provisions for an “other members” grouping to resolve the row.

It argues that a modern parliament is “not necessarily made up of Government and opposition members” and that some TDs cannot be readily placed in these categories.

It would allow for members of the new grouping to ask questions under a new slot called Other Member’s Questions. They would also be allowed to seek representation on the Business Committee.

The opposition has described this as “yet another cynical attempt to manipulate speaking time” to grant “special privileges” to independents they believe “clearly and unambiguously support the Government”.

They said: “They are not ‘other’, they are not ‘unaligned’, they are government TDs.”

The comments rebuking the Government position are contained in a joint statement signed by the leaders of Sinn Féin, Labour, Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Independent Ireland.

The leaders said the proposal would not be tolerated.

“The Combined Opposition is clear – you cannot be in government and opposition at the same time.

“Michael Lowry’s group of TDs cannot be considered as members of the Opposition.

“They cannot avail of Leaders Questions and Priority Questions which are opportunities that are solely for the Opposition to hold the government to account.

“Efforts to silence Opposition Leaders in the Order of Business is a further bizarre intervention.

“These proposals would make a mockery of the functioning of the Dail and will be firmly opposed by the Combined Opposition at the Dáil Reform Committee and in the Dáil itself”.