Opposition leaders ask to meet Taoiseach and Tánaiste over Dáil row

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris have been asked to meet opposition leaders to try to resolve the ongoing row over Dail speaking time.

The row, which delayed the nomination of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach last month, remains unresolved despite several meetings and the intervention of the Ceann Comhairle.

The Government and Opposition remain completely at odds over the speaking rights for independent TDs who supported the formation of Government but did not receive ministerial roles.

The Government Chief Whip had asked that these four independent TDs would still be allowed to be part of a technical group which would allow them to raise issues during opposition time.

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, who could ask questions under a new slot called Other Member’s Questions.

The Opposition has described it as “another cynical attempt to manipulate speaking time” to grant “special privileges” to independents who support the Government.

In a letter sent to the Taoiseach on Wednesday, Opposition leaders accused the Government of moving away from a commitment made to find a solution “acceptable to Government and Opposition” as soon as possible.

They quoted a statement given by former Government whip Hildegarde Naughton in the Dáil on January 23rd.

The letter continues: “It is not acceptable that the Government are now unilaterally moving away from this agreement. Therefore we are seeking a meeting so that an agreed position can come forward.”

Opposition leaders also wrote to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy to outline her “key role” in ensuring the democratic procedures of the Oireachtas “are properly fulfilled”.

“We are now writing to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to seek an urgent meeting with them on these matters to ensure that they honour their word as set out in the Dáil.”

Opposition leaders met on Wednesday ahead of a meeting of the Dáil reform committee.