Independent TD Michael Lowry has called on the Government to review a decision made by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy that his group will not be allowed the privileges of Opposition TDs.
Ms Murphy’s intervention on Monday night – when she ruled that Lowry’s Regional Independents who support Government would not be afforded Opposition speaking rights – cleared the way for a resolution of the speaking row.
The Dáil reform committee met on Tuesday and broke up with agreement for the first time – but the row could be reignited in a matter of weeks if the Government decides to try to change Dáil rules on foot of Ms Murphy’s ruling, if such changes involve measures that explicitly benefit Mr Lowry.
Mr Lowry said it has yet to be decided where his group of Independents – who have said they will support Government – will sit and on whose time they will speak.
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“I was not surprised with this decision because I have been sitting through endless hours of meetings for the past ten days, and I could see that the Ceann Comhairle last Friday was veering in the direction that she took today.
“We accept the ruling. I think what the ruling does is it highlights the necessity, the urgent necessity for Dáil reform. We now have a situation where four Independent members are being specifically named, who are supportive of the Government. Their needs have to be accommodated.
“The Government are going to have to review this decision and come forward with proposals. We have the Government, Opposition and somewhere in the middle, you have Rural Independents who are supportive of Government and that has to be accommodated. There is a major body of work to be done to facilitate Independent members.”
Asked if he was happy to sit on Government benches and speak on Government time, Mr Lowry said: “Well, all of that has to be decided ... I don’t think seating arrangements are the issue. The issue is your entitlement as a duly elected representative to be able to participate and express your views on behalf of the constituency who elected you.”
Asked if he would support the Government on a case-by-case basis or across the board, he said the intention of his group of Independents was to “remain steadfast” in that support. He previously said the group would support the Government in good days and bad days, and that it had negotiated the Government deal on the understanding they were operating from “the inside”.
A Government spokesperson, on behalf of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, said: “In line with our consistent position that speaking time is a matter for the Oireachtas, the two Government parties accept the recommendation of the Ceann Comhairle”.
Government Chief Whip Mary Butler said there would be work in the coming weeks “on a process of reform of standing orders that ensures all TDs in the Dáil will be able to access speaking time”.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Dáil term had started with a controversy about the Government “really overreaching itself” and “attempting to have supporters of Government described as Opposition members and to enjoy the benefits of that”.
She said the Government has “had to make a very significant climbdown”.
“The Ceann Comhairle finally made the right ruling because obviously you cannot be in Government and Opposition at the same time.”
She said the independent TDs involved “should be on the Government benches and they should of course have the same speaking opportunities as every other TD who also backs the Government. That’s the solution to this.”
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy welcomed the decision but said the time had come for the Government to outline what deals exist with Mr Lowry’s group in return for their support.
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