Getting on the job and staying onside with Seán Barrett

DÁIL SKETCH:AS THE main parties divided perks in the Dáil yesterday, there was an offer from those excluded to work for nothing.

Sinn Féin and the technical group wanted membership of the Oireachtas Commission, but the jobs were allocated to the Government parties, Fine Gael and Labour, and Fianna Fáil as the largest Opposition party. Membership of the commission, which runs the Oireachtas, carries a taxable allowance of €15,217 annually on top of salary.

Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh argued that his party and the technical group should be included in “this era of openness’’.

He said commission membership meant a total of €120,000 for Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil.

Joe Higgins, of the Socialist Party, wanted a “genuine representative of the taxpayers’’ on the commission because of recent controversies, a reference to Michael Healy-Rae and the Ring of Kerry.

Minister for Enterprise and Jobs Richard Bruton, who was taking the Order of Business for the Government, said the matter had been discussed by the whips and the proposal stood.

Although the Government had a comprehensive 99 to 28 majority in the subsequent vote to endorse the commission’s membership, Independent Finian McGrath considered the battle for inclusion was far from over.

By then, he had moved nearer to the front of the Opposition benches to confront the Government. “There are four Fine Gael members, one Labour member but not one member of Sinn Féin or the technical group,’’ said an angry McGrath.

It was undemocratic, he added, particularly when his colleagues and himself would not accept the €15,217 allowance.

“Give up your €40,000, then,’’ shouted Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe, referring to the allowance paid to Independent TDs. “You give up your €2.3 million and the Labour Party can give up the €1.4 million,’’ said McGrath.

Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett noted that McGrath had not resumed his seat when asked to do so. “I did resume my seat,’’ said a defiant McGrath.

“You did not,’’ said Barrett, a fair but firm Ceann Comhairle, a stickler for the rules, and the big success of the current Dáil.

Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher later got his walking papers when he refused to observe the rules during health questions.

Sinn Féin’s Dessie Ellis asked about the progress made on noise pollution legislation, covering dogs barking and noisy neighbours. Bruton could be heard saying no date had been set for its publication.

“These are extraordinary times,’’ said Fine Gael’s James Bannon. “I know they are,’’ said the Ceann Comhairle.

There was a moment of all-party agreement amid the din.