No Agreement Reached Regarding Regional Independent Group Dáil Speaking Time

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The row over Dáil time for the Regional Independent Group (RIG) led by North Tipperary TD Michael Lowry and now including South Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath as a member looks set to continue. The newly formed Dáil Reform and Standing Orders committee met for five hours yesterday and failed to reach agreement.

The Government is proposing to increase the time allocated to Leaders questions and Priority Questions in the Dáil and to allow the RIG to use some of this time. The opposition are steadfast in wanting the RIG to use Government time as they have committed to support the Government in all votes, have secured policy concessions, five Minister of State Positions and the post of Ceann Comhairle in the recent Programme for Government negotiations.  The Government proposal also allows the RIG to have a nominee on both the Dáil Business Committee and on the Dáil Reform Committee.  

The intention was that a resolution to the dispute would be found before the Dáil resumes on February 5th –  it may now take a meeting of the party leaders to resolve the situation.