Was Dáil chaos a pre-planned sabotage or spontaneous outpouring of frustration?

The Dáil agenda today just looks a little familiar.

Ah, that’s why! It’s yesterday’s agenda. Except nobody got past first base yesterday. So the 174 Deputies of the 34th Dáil have to do it all again, this time with feeling.

Was yesterday’s chaos in the Dáil a pre-planned act of collective sabotage or a spontaneous outpouring of frustration and anger by the Opposition?

I think a bit of both. Sinn Féin had promised that today’s exchanges in the Dáil would be ‘fractious’. And indeed they were.

Was Dáil chaos a pre-planned sabotage or spontaneous outpouring of frustration?

Storm Lowry lands in Dáil Éireann - and it’s a miracle the roof stayed on

Chaos in the Dáil - as it happened: McDonald accuses Government of ‘incredible arrogance’ as Opposition says it will not back down over speaking demands

Sinn Féin wasn’t alone. The other Opposition parties and groups were all bristling with rage over the arrangement. Whether any envisaged how the day would pan out, there was one thing the Opposition and Government parties were both agreed on by the time it all came to an end - it was a farcical omnishambles.

The fury of the Opposition over the day led to suspensions that completely derailed the appointment of the taoiseach. That in turn led to reciprocal fury from the Government leaders.

Marie O’Halloran has a superb run-down here of all the events, the turns and strands of an extraordinary day in Dáil Éireann.

Dialogue of the Deaf

Two impromptu stand-up press conferences were held on either side of Leinster House around teatime. At the gates of Government Buildings, Simon Harris and Micheál Martin vented about the events of the day, with Harris portraying it as a “political stunt on speed” with Martin going further and claiming it was a “subversion” of the Constitution.

A short time later, on the plinth of Leinster House, the leaders of the combined Opposition gave a press conference and dug in their heels over the issue.

“We believe that the Government has demonstrated incredible arrogance. They believe clearly that they could come into the Dáil and ride roughshod over the collective Opposition,” Mary Lou McDonald said.

“The Government has known that its (arrangement) is unacceptable and, frankly, farcical.”

The row revolves around how Independent TDs come together to form technical groups. The number required used to be seven but is now five. A technical group was formed which included four Government-supporting Independents: Michael Lowry; Barry Heneghan; Gillian Toole; and Danny Healy-Rae.

The Opposition said that Standing Order 170 is clear in stating that the group must be formed by “members of the opposition”. Privately, some Government TDs agree with that view. However, they argued it was something that could have been thrashed out with a satisfactory resolution after the appointment of a Taoiseach, not before.

The Opposition have said the issue is so fundamentally important that it must be dealt with first. And that was why we had both sides at such loggerheads yesterday.

Was there an agreement?

Michael Lowry and Hildegarde Naughton both claimed that an agreement was reached at around 3.30pm yesterday between the Government and the Opposition but that Sinn Féin later reneged on it.

Sinn Féin denied there was ever an agreement.

Labour said that Ivana Bacik had requested a meeting of all leaders but that when she approached Micheál Martin and Simon Harris in the Dáil both refused.

Is there a resolution in sight?

Talks involving the Opposition leaders, the Ceann Comhairle and the Government parties continued late into the night, as our political team reports.

Just before 11 last night, sources on the Opposition side confirmed that a meeting will be held at 8.30am between the leaders of the opposition, and Micheál Martin and Simon Harris.”

A source told Jack Horgan-Jones: “The opposition leaders have made a joint proposal to Martin and Harris that they believe will resolve the government created impasse and allow the business of the Dáil proceed in a fair and respectful way.”

“It is understood that the opposition parties will want the revision to standing orders agreed before a government is installed.”

Because the early morning meeting is likely to run on for a while, Dáil proceedings will be put back to 10.30am or 11am.

It looks like the election of the Taoiseach could go ahead after all, if it runs as smoothly as it is being predicted.