THE FIVE Sinn Féin TDs agreed yesterday to approach Independent TDs Finian McGrath and Maureen O’Sullivan with a view to forming a technical group in Dáil Éireann.
The minimum membership for such a group is seven TDs and the success of Sinn Féin candidate Pearse Doherty in the Donegal South West byelection means such a formation is possible if two other TDs agree to join.
Mr McGrath (Dublin North Central) and Ms O’Sullivan (Dublin Central) are the only TDs to have expressed an interest in the possibility of joining a technical group.
Technical groups enjoy similar privileges to the main parties, such as participation in Leaders’ Questions, submitting priority questions to Ministers and proposing Private Members’ motions but it is not necessary for the different elements to agree on policy matters.
Sinn Féin has tabled a motion of no confidence in Taoiseach Brian Cowen and setting up a technical group would mean the party could bring it to the floor of the House in Private Members’ time.
