Tension grows between Bruton, Pattison

Increasing tensions between the main Opposition parties and the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison, over how Dail business is handled are to be raised at a meeting today.

The Dail Committee on Procedure and Privileges will consider a letter from the Fine Gael and Labour Party whips requesting a special meeting to consider concerns over what Opposition members feel is a gradual erosion of their rights.

There have been increasingly disruptive scenes during Dail Order of Business in recent weeks when Opposition questions have been ruled out of order by Mr Pattison and the Leas Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon. The party whips sent a letter to Mr Pattison, who is also chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, on February 2nd following exchanges between him and the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, and the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, during that day's Order of Business.

The letter, which has been seen by The Irish Times, stated that disorder and argument on the Order of Business was not in anyone's interest.

"Certainly members of our parties take no pleasure in finding themselves in conflict with the chair. However, it is the duty of the Opposition parties to oppose, to challenge, to question and to demand accountability of Government."

The letter said the interests of democracy were not being furthered "if the Standing Orders of the House are framed or interpreted in such a way as to unreasonably inhibit the Opposition from fulfilling its role".

The letter stated that Fine Gael and Labour wanted a special meeting of the committee to discuss the "perceived increased refusal of questions or adjournment debated requests" on the grounds that the "Minister has no responsibility to the Dail".

They also wanted what they claim was the restriction on the ability of members to initiate Private Members' Bills discussed.

There was further conflict yesterday between Mr Pattison and Mr Bruton during a question to the Taoiseach on the terms of reference of the National Competitiveness Council. The Ceann Comhairle told Mr Bruton that he was not in order to ask Mr Ahern what the Minister for Finance could do to deal with increased inflation as it was not related to the original question.

Mr Bruton accused Mr Pattison of curtailing him as Leader of the Opposition from doing his job.