LAST UPDATE | 27 Jan

GOVERNMENT WILL BRING forward a proposal to amend the Dáil Standing Orders on Thursday, which seeks to resolve the row over speaking rights in the House. 

The new Dáil Reform Committee met this afternoon to discuss the matter, amid fears there could be another Dáil showdown next week a solution is not reached. 

Tipperary TD Michael Lowry, who sits on the new committee, is understood to have made the case for him and the other Regional Independents, who were part of government formation talks, but who did not get a government role, to be allowed to ask questions during Leaders’ Questions. 

While it is believed that Lowry told the meeting that he doesn’t mind whether the group gets the time from Opposition or government, it is understood the government will concede that it be taken from their own speaking time. However, it is understood that allotted times will also be redrawn as part of this new arrangement.

It is understood such a major change in the rules has also irked government backbenchers who now feel short changed if the speaking time for the Regional Independents will eat into their speaking time. 

Chief Whip Mary Butler, who is also a member of the new committee, will bring forward the government wording for the rule change on Thursday. 

The committee agreed to meet on Wednesday, where a constitutional lawyer will lay out some of the parameters, before they meet again on Thursday afternoon to consider government’s wording.

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said the government could resolve the dispute by cutting all ties with Lowry, stating that the government “pandering to Michael Lowry has already been hugely damaging”. 

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“Instead of acknowledging that, and working with the Opposition to find a way forward, it appears that another stroke is underway.

“At a meeting of the Dáil reform committee this afternoon, it became clear that government parties are attempting to mount a rearguard action to reduce Opposition speaking time and designate it for the government. This will not be entertained.

“There is another way. To help resolve the dispute over speaking rights, and the instability that pandering to Mr Lowry is causing, the Government must cut all ties with him,” he said.

O’Callaghan said Independent TDs, who have agreed a programme for government, must be accommodated in genuine government time when speaking in the Dáil.