A row has broken out over a bid to boost Dáil speaking rights for some Independents who are supporting the incoming government. The proposal from the Independent TDs to be part of a so-called technical group has prompted Opposition outrage.
Q: What is a technical group?
A: Under the standing orders of the last Dáil, Opposition TDs who band together in a technical group of at least five TDs can avail of various rights not open to sole traders or government backbenchers. Groups have regular opportunities to quiz the taoiseach during Leaders’ Questions. They can nominate members to present motions or proposed legislation to the Dáil. Such groups cannot include senior or junior ministers.
Q: Who would be in the proposed technical group?
A: Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry – who outlined the proposal at the Dáil’s business committee on Thursday – and other members of the Regional Independent Group who are signed up to back the government, but did not get ministerial roles. They are Dublin Bay North TD Barry Heneghan, Meath East TD Gillian Toole and Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae. Other members of the group would be from the Opposition – Aontú TDs Peadar Tóibín and Paul Lawless, and Offaly Independent Carol Nolan.
Q: So what is the problem?
A: When the proposed make-up of the technical group emerged at the business committee, Opposition parties responded with outrage. They view it as Government TDs eating into Opposition speaking time. Sinn Féin’s Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said afterwards “you can’t have your cake and eat it”, and he has highlighted the existing standing orders which state that a group “is a body of members in opposition”. Sinn Féin has confirmed it is seeking legal advice on the matter.
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Q. What exactly is ‘speaking time’ and why is it important?
Speaking time is essentially the amount of time a party, TD or government gets to speak before the Dáil chamber. This may include questions to the Government or a relevant minister, debate on proposed legislation or statements on events.
A recognised group has more speaking rights within the Dáil than an unaffiliated TD, such as the entitlement to ask questions to the Taoiseach during Leaders’ Questions.
Q: What is the argument on the Independents’ side?
A: Lowry has argued that the lack of ministers in the proposed group means “we’re in compliance with the rules”. He said Independent TDs are “entitled to have the same access and privileges” they had in the last Dáil. He also cited how he had supported “the last five or six governments from the Opposition benches. There’s nothing different about it.”
Q: Who will decide on all of this?
A: The Oireachtas has said it is a matter for new Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy “having taken any necessary legal and procedural advice, to determine whether or not a technical group will be recognised”. Murphy was a member of the Regional Independent Group, which nominated her to be Ceann Comhairle.
Q. Has the Ceann Comhairle decided what to do yet?
Murphy wrote to TDs who are members of the Dáil business committee on Friday night and said there was “long standing precedent” that allows Independent TDs who have agreed to support the Government and are not a minister get speaking time and sit on Opposition benches.
Murphy said she received the advice from the Houses of the Oireachtas Service. She added that said to exclude an Independent TD who is not a senior or junior minister from a technical group would require an amendment to standing orders, which are dealt with by the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform.
Q. So, is that the end of it?
Not really. The Ceann Comhairle also told TDs that if they did not agree with the advice, they should send a submission to her with “whatever alternative process you believe should be applied, to include supporting legal advice, where same has been procured”.
Murphy said she would “carefully consider” the points raised and take any necessary further advice from the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers. Submissions must be sent on by close of business on Wednesday, January 22nd.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said the Ceann Comhairle’s letter would be “strongly challenged”. Mac Lochlainn said his party would be getting independent legal advice and he would be talking to Opposition whips over the weekend.
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