The Reform Alliance TDs will become members of the technical group following the resumption of the Dáil today after the summer break. The leading figure in the Reform Alliance, Lucinda Creighton, last night submitted her application to Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett to join the group.
The addition of the five former Fine Gael TDs would push up the membership of the technical group from 16 to 21. If the two former Labour TDs, Róisín Shortall and Tommy Broughan, also decide to join the group, it would have 23 TDs.
The involvement of the Reform Alliance in the technical group, with the extra speaking rights and entitlement to places on Oireachtas committees that comes with it, will create a headache for the Government.
It could cause an even more serious headache for Fianna Fáil as the technical group might be entitled to committee places now held by the party, which will no longer be the largest Opposition grouping in the House.
The addition of five new TDs will mean that the technical group will be bigger than either Fianna Fáil, with 20 TDs, or Sinn Féin with 14. Ms Creighton said last night that the Ceann Comhairle had agreed to facilitate her and colleagues Billy Timmins, Terence Flanagan, Peter Mathews and Denis Naughten in joining the group.
“The Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett has proven himself to be impartial and independent-minded by making the correct decision to facilitate us in joining the technical group,” Ms Creighton said.
She added that his approach was in stark contrast to that of the Government, which had sought to marginalise the Reform Alliance by minimising its access to speaking time and committee representation. “The decision of the Ceann Comhairle to facilitate the expansion of the technical group is a very positive move for the Dáil as an institution’”
Since Ms Creighton and a number of her colleagues lost the Fine Gael party whip for voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill over 12 months ago, they have been seeking access to speaking rights and committee places. They initially explored the possibility of forming a second technical group in the Dáil, but this is not permitted under standing orders.
