A showdown over the row on Dáil speaking rights is expected on Thursday as Opposition parties look set to challenge any Government attempt to eat into their speaking time.
Government sources said on Wednesday that discussions were ongoing around the wording of an amendment designed to break the gridlock over an ongoing row around the Regional Independent Group (RIG).
A proposal to give Michael Lowry’s RIG 10 minutes of speaking on Opposition time caused uproar in the Dáil last week, and temporarily derailed Micheál Martin’s election as Taoiseach.
Opposition parties have united over the issue, saying Mr Lowry played a central role in the formation of the Government and has committed to supporting it, meaning he cannot be considered a member of the Opposition and set up a technical group for the purpose of securing Opposition speaking time.
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Following meetings between party leaders, it was agreed that a committee would consider the wording of a new amendment to Dáil rules. This meeting will take place on Thursday afternoon, with the Government expected to bring forward an amendment to break the deadlock.
A previously mooted amendment to standing orders, or Dáil rules, was suggested which stipulated that a TD who was involved in the formation of government or had indicated support for the implementation of a programme for government, and was committed to voting in support of government, could not form a so-called technical group which would allow speaking privileges akin to being in the Opposition. Mr Lowry’s group has pushed back against this.
There is considerable anxiety among the Opposition that the Government will propose giving itself more speaking time, and allocating Mr Lowry’s some of this time while attempting to designate it as non-Government time.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said on Wednesday that the “Opposition are united in not accepting anything” which would see Mr Lowry “on Opposition benches or which sees incursion into Opposition time by Government”.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald also said she will would not accept a situation whereby the Government moved to accommodate Mr Lowry’s group while taking time the Opposition considers to be theirs.
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