The newly formed Oireachtas Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform met again yesterday to work out a solution to the dispute about Dáil speaking time for Independent TDs that form a technical group. The Government Chief Whip Mary Butler is now expected to bring a proposal on Thursday to try to resolve the dispute. The committee is to be given legal advice on Wednesday
Independent TDs who support the coalition might be given Government speaking time to raise issues during Leaders’ Questions. Leaders’ Questions is a portion of the Dáil schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday, where opposition leaders pose queries to the Taoiseach. The same applies on Thursday when the Tánaiste answers questions. The leaders of Sinn Fein, Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit all opposed a proposal last week that the TDs in the Regional Independent Group(RIG) led by North Tipperary TD Michael Lowry could use Opposition Time in the Dáil during Leaders’ questions.
The Government is to announce the names of all 23 Ministers of State tomorrow with the Regional Independent Group to have 3 Ministers of State(Marian Harkin, Kevin Moran & Michael Healy Rae) in addition to the two Super Junior Ministers confirmed last week when Noel Grealish and Sean Canney received their seals of office.
