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THE LEADERS OF the Opposition have said “all options” are on the table, including a walkout from the Dáil next week, in protest over the Government pushing through changes to speaking rights tonight.
A four-hour meeting of the Dáil Reform Committee ended in a vote this evening, with the Government winning 10 to eight. The proposal will be put to a full Dáil vote next week, but is guaranteed to pass given the Government’s majority.
In a hastily arranged press conference after the meeting, the leaders of Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, Independent Ireland and People Before Profit expressed their fury at the Government’s actions.
“That was one of the worst exercises in cynicism and sleeveen politics on the part of the Government that I have ever witnessed in all my years in the Dáil,” People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett said.
Boyd Barrett said the Government TDs in the meeting “pretended for three to four hours that they were serious about a compromise and a discussion” and then “at the last minute” pushed it through with a vote.
He suggested that the vote was called following a communication from someone “higher up” in the Government.
Tonight’s meeting was arranged in a bid to come to an agreement on the speaking rights row that derailed parliament last month.
In a statement, government chief whip Mary Butler said she welcomed the decision to “address speaking time for 60 TDs”.
She said the proposals agreed will ensure all backbench TDs in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and those independents not recognised under Standing Order 170, will be able to access speaking time”.
“Under the government proposal there won’t be any reduction in opposition speaking time,” said Butler in a statement.
However, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the actions of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are “dangerous, unprecedented, and a clear attempt to turn logic and the rules and functions of the Dáil on their head”.
She said the Government has “gone back on their word” and “unilaterally moved to force through propositions that make a mockery of any notion of accountability in the Dáil”.
The Sinn Féin leader added: “They’ve gone to no end of trouble to accommodate Michael Lowry and his group of independents to pretend that you can be in Government and Opposition at the same time.”
“They have gone back on their word.”
— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) February 26, 2025
The five main opposition leaders are out on the plinth after a four hour Dail Reform Committee meeting.
They say they are very concerned about the government “ramming through” their proposals on speaking rights.
@thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/1bAsBvYYJs
The Sinn Féin leader also said that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil now “want their own TDs to also act as though they were also Opposition TDs”.
Meanwhile, Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said “what happened this evening was an unprecedented attempt by the Government to dilute Opposition oversight in this Dáil”.
He said that at the Dáil reform committee, Butler called a vote on “half-baked government proposals, most of which hadn’t even been discussed at the meeting”.
O’Callaghan noted that it is the practice of the committee to consider the specific text of proposed amendments to standing orders before a vote, but that the “Government has not even bothered drafting that text”.
Earlier this month, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy ruled that the Regional Independent Group could not be recognised as a group in Opposition, based on the existing rules as set out in Standing Orders.
This ruling was accepted by all parties and a plan was arranged for the Dáil Reform Committee to meet again three weeks later to consider proposed amendments to the Standing Orders.
In their submission, the Government mooted the creation of “Other Members’ Questions”, a new section of Dáil time that four members of the Regional Independents Technical group, who have openly said they will support the government, can use.
The Opposition parties dubbed this “yet another cynical attempt to manipulate speaking time” and give “special privileges” to the members of the Regional Independents who participated in government formation talks, but who do not hold ministerial positions.
These four TDs are Danny Healy Rae, Barry Heneghan, Michael Lowry and Gillian Toole.
In a letter to the Opposition leaders earlier today, the Ceann Comhairle told them that she has no role in deciding what new Standing Orders can be introduced.
“I am obliged as Ceann Comhairle to merely implement and administer the rules as they stand, no more and no less. To do otherwise would involve my office in political controversy which I will not, and cannot, allow myself to be drawn into,” she said.
“The amendment of Standing Orders is a matter for the Dáil, not the office of Ceann Comhairle. I do not have the authority to intervene in this process, as it is a matter for the House itself.”
As a consequence of this row, Micheál Martin’s election as Taoiseach was delayed by a day last month.
A further consequence has been a delay in the establishment of Oireachtas Committees, which have not sat properly in three months.
Yesterday, Sinn Féin Chief Whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn told The Journal: “The function of the parliament is in serious crisis because of the Government’s actions.
“The place is not functioning properly because of this absolute mess.”
Earlier today, the five Opposition party leaders wrote a joint letter to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to request an urgent meeting.
They noted that there had been agreement in place that any changes to Standing Orders would be done with the consent of the Opposition.
They further noted that this position was stated in the Dáil by then Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughten.
The five Opposition leaders will meet again in the morning to discuss their next step, but they reiterated that they are “united” and that “everything” is on the table.
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What has Lowry got on Martin that he is supporting him like this?
@John Nolan: Brains
@John Nolan: At least once this mess is finally cleared up, they’ll be able to set up a committee to investigate what Lowry has on Martin where lessons will then be learned etc etc.
@John Nolan: You may have a problem with denying elected reps speaking time but if it stops having to listen To the IRA reps fantastic as they strutted their praise of a dead man who murdered innocent people yes Lowry has issues but he didn’t kill innocent people like the IRA and the shinners praise his patriotism. Murderer is more accurate
@Tim Brennan: Like them or loath them, SF received a larger mandate then FG although not as large as the mandate the people gave to the GFA which was signed over a quarter of a century ago. You clearly have an issue with democracy as so many FFG die hards have but wanting to deny the speaking rights of the 2nd largest party in the state is taking it to a whole new level.
@Declan Doherty: fffg designing their autocratic state.
@Declan Doherty: you need to read up on the issue, it clearly states opposition speaking time won’t be effected, it was Trimble and Hume that pushed through the GFA, Jarry and the RA had to brought kicking and screaming to the table.
@John Nolan: he was the patsy for the esat scandal. If he doesn’t get what he wants he’ll sing like a canary and there are more than a few FFG members who’d be squirming fairly nervously. Same as the FF members who used to hang around the tents at the Galway races, there’s a reason no one from Anglo ever saw any real jail time. There’s also a reason no evidence given in a tribunal can be used by the guards or DPP. Politicians and their billionaire pals are to be protected at all costs.
@Tim Brennan: the GFA agreement was signed 27 years ago, the dead man’s funeral they went to commited those murders 49 years ago, Charles haughey and Neil blaney were caught importing arms for this crowd 55 years ago. Stop living in the past.. or do you just like to point the finger at one particular crowd and ignore the others crimes?
@Declan Doherty: who is denying them their speaking rights ?
@John Nolan: Lowry & FFG, endemic recidivist fraudsters
@John Nolan: Couldn’t we all like to know.
@barry williams: say that to the families of the people murdered…
@Declan Doherty: Tim is dim, but still hasn’t realised yet declan. Mehole martin bootlicker is tim the dim.
@barry williams: Ms McDonald eulogy was pleasing the militant wing of the party by glorifying the terror campaign and living in the past. What she is doing now is what SF do best – protesting and disrupting.
@Louis Jacob: haha best comment!!
@Tim Brennan: history ain’t your strong point
@Bryan: and then there will be nothing to see here. Lowry is a con man.
@Tim Brennan: the logic of your argument is as skewed as your thinking, Bic Mcfarland has as much relevance to the present situation as a ham sandwich to a bar mitzvah.the fact is Martin and his minions are trying to subvert democracy for their own ends
@Tim Brennan: that being the case MM and FF & FG both have questions to answer for supporting Liam Lynch & Michael Collins. I’m hoping you will call on FF & FG to apologize to the British empire for the murder of their subjects in Ireland in the 20th century.
What is going on here? are these people for real? your either in government or your not, it’s as simple as that
@Nikki Swift: Micheál is so obnoxious he can’t even comprehend why he’s getting questioned on this. Do these people not realise he’s a Fianna Fail politician and it’s his turn to play leader??
@Nikki Swift: The opposition parties still have the same speaking time as before. They just want to stop Independents from having an opportunity to raise local issues on their own time.
@D Farrell: No independents aligned to the government,not
All independents, they were told no, and sometime you got to tell michael No, just like Diddy.
This squabble between the opposition and the government IMHO has been by design, instigated by the government, exacerbated by Mícheal Martin and his calling Marylou McDonald a liar as Gaielge.
The whole thing is designed to keep the public eye away from the decisions this government is taking, and the ramming of legislation, support and money to things the public wouldn’t approve of,
Like the triple lock, slide from neutrality, disastrous housing policy, open borders, breakdown of law and order, watering down the occupied territories bill, letting Israel slide…
Sleight of hand, all manufactured by this government to keep up occupied.
The Dáil is the new coliseum, keeps the masses entertained, while they phuck us up from behind
@John Darker: “Panem et Circenses”
@John Darker: great comment John, so true. The same with the stories of the money their wasting, RTE are even roasting them on it, which is unusual. Definitely distraction tactics. The government, ff and fg, have truly sold out this country. No morals and couldn’t give a flying phuck about the ordinary citizens.
Always lying through their teeth in interviews and the unintelligent phuckers, that are the Irish people swallowing it left, right and centre.
@den: “they’re” not their!
@John Darker: if you’re used to being phucked from behind that’s your own business . Reckon you’re talking out your whole.
What the government are doing makes it very clear that they care more about the party than the people. We all know that taking away from the ‘real’ oppositions speaking time is a big dent in democracy. MM letting himself down on this one big time and it is out of character. Wondering how Lowry managed to get MM sitting so deep in his pocket.
@Sean Mc Garry: but no one is taking away the “real” oppositions speaking time, the proposal is to grant additional time for the technical group. Having said that how Lowry is even elected after what he’s done is beyond me, never mind be involved in putting a programme of government together
@The next small thing: Fair point but I wonder if it is the case that this new time is just a door opener for it to eventually become amalgamated into the normal opposition time? That’s how I imagine it would play out over the next couple of years. Also, if you were being cynical you’d say it’s a great way for the government to have questions seeded to them which is especially dangerous with social media and clickbait hooks and headlines. Why are the government so keen to introduce this time?
@The next small thing: Dessie the bomber Ellis always gets elected too
I agree 100% with Ivana Bacik, Mumbles Martin has turned into an obnoxious sneering bu!!y. He seems to be modelling himself on the Orange Orangutan….. Not a good role model at all.
Hopefully the real opposition resort to obstructionist politics if he tries to ram this through!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: I resent your slur to orangutans! Please retract.
(but I agree with the rest of your comment)
@Jerry LeFrog: Apologies to the slur to Orangutans, perhaps I will just have to stick with…. Orange Ogre!!
Shameful stuff from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael!
All the talk in the media after the election was how Sinn Féin had a poor result. When the real story was how the 2 power houses of Irish politics can’t even put a government together without the help of the Tipperary louser and the Kerry gobdaws. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
@Anthony Curran: At least they got a government together…..Nobody wanted to work with Sf.
@Anthony Curran: No body wants those who glorify murders as patriots in power
All this for Michael bleedin Lowry
The deathknell is starting to sound for mm
Sure give Danny Healy Rae, Barry Heneghan, Michael Lowry and Gillian Toole a few weeks each as Taoiseach. FF/FG have diluted the role of Taoiseach to have less worth. Sure I’ll have a go, if they’re stuck for holidays. It appears the criteria is just to smirk at difficult questions, claim you’ll look into it and give an inflated total number of houses you plan to build by the end of the year.
Micheal Martin is destroying the very little integrity he had..
Lowry should never be next or near the Dail. Disgraceful.
And this group of squabbling children are supposed to be governing the country? We’re doomed!
@Richard Starling: A bit harsh on the children.
Election time again if they had *******
Michael o Louserwry in control now
Silly from FFG … they stay in power by maintaining a splintered left/centre left … now look what they have managed
@PAUL C: Martin has badly damaged his own perceived integrity with this debacle. A miscalculation on his part going into business with Lowry.
Time for the president to dissolve this Dáil and call a general election. For him to do something useful for once.
@Teresa Ryan: u had an election and the opposition are crying because the Government has power
@Tim Brennan: its more then that….we are like gold fish…keep voting the same people in expecting different results…the people who we elect could not give a fiddlers about us…all they care about is how good they look on the international stage and their precious pensions…if they really cared this country would start building more prisons more hospitals get tough on crime and i mean no bleeding heart birgades are allowed in..
@H Woo: ah but your alternative didn’t get any votes, did they??? The dog kickers and the women beaters, and the gold bullion I’m holding it for a friend. Laughable.
Good to see rather minions going to jail though. Aul gemma very quiet of late.
This is the result of having career politicians. Spoilt, reta rded, igno rant, arr ogant, self-serving clo wns.
@Gerry Lamont: and you forgot “from father to son to grandson” (and add the odd female nepobaby for ‘gender equality’)
Hello elected people. Trump has announced 25% tariff on EU goods.
Are ye interested in such news at all ?
@JP: trump love him or hate him is looking after his people…ireland and europe should of been looking and taking notes…cause its all world affairs and europeans and irish been left behind
@kaidon sharkey:
Looking after his people ? And who might they be ?
@JP: the vast majority of people who voted him in…who live and work and abide by the law legally…people from all backgrounds voted him in to look after their country…its not ours so is it going to come any shock that he does these tarrifs?? no…cause its what anyone would do…the eu has gotten away with so much its coming back to bite them
The only thing left to conclude is that FF/FG believes Lowry will collapse the government if he doesn’t get exactly what he wants. There’s no other explanation for pushing this nonsense this far when they know the public are against it.
Another pathetic sentence of 20 months for the unprovoked assault on the American tourist
The sleeveen Martin is going to bring down Fine Gael. Yes, I said Fine Gael where there are still TDs and supporters with a glimmer of decency. They must be fuming at how they let their party be suckered into this FF stunt.
Crunch talks
That is funny
Can they please Stop this and start providing Homes
For God’s sake , we have a homeless criss, we have Trump, we have a law and order crisis and many more, all you are worried about is preventing Michael Lowry speaking rights. Get real here. Ye have made your point get on with it and do what people voted for ye to do
@Eileen Hennessy: totally agree they spend more time fighting in the Dail.than working for the people who elected them & people are sick listening to all the crap.To many important issues to be sorted not playing one upmanship
All the left-wing and far-left politicians lined up for their latest press conference to whine about how life isn’t fair. They’ve really outdone themselves this time to the point that I’m actually on the side of our current failed government for once. The four Independents at the centre of this speaking rules dispute don’t hold any cabinet positions and aren’t even part of the government. There is no reason why they shouldn’t be entitled to sit on the opposition benches. Tony Gregory already set the precedent for this back in the 1980s. It allows the four Independents the ability to freely vote in favour of bills that benefit their rural constituents and vote against ones that do not. This is just a cheap attempt by the opposition parties to silence those who are not part of their clique.
@William Jennings: cop on my friend Tony Gregory had no imput into government policy
The left do love a good windge,but it satisfys them because noting gets done then, another trait of the left, noting getting done.
@Darran Macken: always defending the government, who are the real culprits here!
The Ffg entitled wasters sold there decency, honesty and integrity for power a century ago , And a section of t irish citizens have a sort of Stockholm syndrome twords them, Its sad
Let them walk out. It’s like they have a majority in a democracy.
What a saddo opposition
No wonder the North is a basket case. The Shinners haven’t a clue, while people live in the real world.
If it stops us listening to the moaning and groaning fantastic
What a motley crew forever bound together sailing a ship that will never reach the Harbour of Government.
FF FG in power too long. People get what they vote for, but PR encourages Independents holding guns to the heads of everyone.
Sick sick sick that a corrupt politicians is controlling our country.
A few more also are only interested in their own pockets and not the people of the country
Mehole’s complete u-turn on his view of Last Laugh Lowry from a few years ago to what it is today not only does a disservice to himself but to politicians in general. Only a complete idiot would believe anything they say. And the arrogance that comes with getting a sizeable majority is something that should be carefully noted by the electorate.
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