Opposition leaders have signalled they will not accept any solution to the ongoing speaking rights row that would see Michael Lowry’s Independent group allocated Leaders’ Questions time in the Dáil.
The Leaders’ Questions slot is among the most high-profile parts of the parliamentary week, receiving live TV coverage as Opposition leaders raise issues with the Taoiseach or Tánaiste of the day.
Speaking to RTÉ‘s This Week programme on Sunday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Independents who have agreed to support Government could not be given access to a Leaders’ Questions slot.
“Leaders’ Questions are for the Opposition leaders to hold the Taoiseach of the day to account.”
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Her view was separately backed by the Labour Party, Social Democrats and People Before Profit, who confirmed on Sunday to The Irish Times they would not countenance such a resolution.
With the bitter row now rumbling on for a third week and threatening to overshadow the meeting of the Dáil on Wednesday, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she had requested that Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris meet her and the rest of the Opposition leaders on Tuesday.
Ms McDonald earlier had indicated the Opposition would seek such a meeting, with the Dáil reform committee due to meet on Tuesday afternoon in a last-ditch effort to agree a compromise.
Ms Bacik questioned why the Government parties seemed so keen to facilitate Mr Lowry’s position that he and his Independent colleagues be permitted to ask questions in Opposition time.
“It makes no sense they’re wasting all their political capital on something I believe is causing deep unease among their own backbenchers,” she said.
[ Unveiling of new junior ministers underlines Dáil sausage-festOpens in new window ]
Also speaking to RTÉ, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North West Paul McAuliffe denied that Mr Lowry had any undue hold over Government. “He has the same hold over the Government that I and every other person who supports the Government do,” he said.
Ms McDonald said the Government solution proposed last week – to create a new “hybrid” category of Dáil technical group which would retain the same rights as Opposition groups - was seeking to “turn logic, reality and democracy on its head”.
After chaotic scenes in the Dáil last month that derailed the first attempt to elect Mr Martin as Taoiseach, she promised that the Opposition would “stand our ground” and “consider all and every option” if the Coalition used its majority on the Dáil reform committee to push through its preferred solution despite Opposition from the other parties.
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