The Dáil is to vote this afternoon on a new model to allocate speaking time for Regional Independent TDs including Tipperary TDs Michael Lowry and Mattie McGrath. The Government proposal is to allocate additional new speaking times for the Regional Independent TDs and its own backbenchers.
The standing orders were voted through the Dáil Standing Orders and Reform Committee in February and need to be ratified by a Dáil vote. As the Government has a majority in the Dáil it will win the vote. Opposition TDs are incensed that the Government broke a commitment it gave that the arrangement would be reached by consensus on the Committee. This did not happen as the Government forced the new model through with it’s majority on the committee.
The opposition are also opposed in principle to the idea that members of the Regional Independent Group(RIG) could speak in time that is understood to be opposition time as the RIG took part in Government formation talks, secured five Minister of State positions, had their candidate elected as Ceann Comhairle and have committed to support the Government in every vote. The opposition want the RIG TDs that are not Ministers such as Deputy Lowry and Deputy McGrath to speak in Government time and have no objection to this time being expanded.
The vote is due to take place shortly after 3pm today – it is understood that the party leaders may have discussions prior to the Dáil session starting at 2pm today.
