Dail disruption expected over speaking time ‘fiasco’

The opposition is expected to disrupt Dail proceedings on Tuesday as part of a deepening row over speaking time.

Five opposition parties met on Monday to agree a response to the government’s proposal to change speaking time arrangements in order to create a new slot for coalition backbenchers and government-affiliated independents.

The disruption is expected just after 2pm, during the Leaders’ Questions slot in the Dail.

It is the latest development in the dispute over how speaking time in the Dail is divvied up.

The row delayed Micheal Martin’s nomination as Taoiseach in January and has trundled on despite several inter-party meetings and the intervention of the Ceann Comhairle in favour of the opposition.

This led to a brief reprieve before the dispute was reignited after the government put forward a new proposal to change speaking time arrangements and suggested it would use its majority to push them through.

Opposition parties – Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, Independent Ireland and Solidarity-People Before Profit – are to protest that decision when the Dail reconvenes on Tuesday.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who is a member of the Dail reform committee, suggested this would be done by widespread disruption, as a walkout could allow the government to continue to pass legislation.

He said a compromise acceptable to everyone should be sought and a meeting between the opposition and the Taoiseach and Tanaiste on Tuesday was needed.

On Monday evening, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Labour leader Ivana Bacik spoke to Mr Martin.

“The Taoiseach and Tanaiste have been called by me this afternoon and again tonight,” Ms McDonald said.

“They are aware that my calls are to reiterate our opposition request for a meeting.

“It is deeply disingenuous for government to pretend that they have made any genuine effort to resolve this crisis having failed to respond to our letter, having failed to agree a meeting and having broken their commitment – read into the record of the Dail not to act unilaterally and force deeply problematic change through the Dail.”

A Labour spokeswoman said Ms Bacik and Mr Martin had a conversation about the vote and why Labour “wouldn’t be accepting the Government proposal”.

She added: “Deputy Bacik emphasised once again the need for a meeting with all Opposition Leaders in advance of the vote.”

Outlining criticisms of the “extremely contentious” government proposal, Mr Murphy said it is due to be voted on without a debate on Tuesday, halves the time available for opposing the Order of Business, and reduces the time for Taoiseach’s Questions every week from 90 to 45 minutes.

He added: “About 50 minutes of opposition time is being taken each week, between the cutting of objections to the Order of Business and the halving of Taoiseach’s Questions, and about 50 minutes is being given in opportunities for Leaders’ Questions to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and then an extra speaking time to the Lowry group.

“So there is a direct transfer and a direct undermining of the capacity of the opposition to hold the government to account, and that’s our job in the Dail.”

Minister of State Alan Dillon confirmed that the government is planning to use its majority in the Dail to push through the new speaking time arrangements on Tuesday.

He said: “We’re two months on where we’ve had hours of debate in the Oireachtas standing orders committee and we will come to a conclusion tomorrow when this is brought to a vote.

“This is about giving government backbenchers more speaking time, it’s about changes to the standing orders which are modest in nature but also recognise the evolving nature of the Dail and certainly, as a former backbencher, I know how difficult it can be to get Dail speaking time.”

He added: “This fiasco that the opposition are presenting has certainly had a huge impact in relation to our Dail activities.”

Earlier on Monday, Education Minister Helen McEntee said that the government’s proposals would not affect opposition time and would instead create a new time slot for backbenchers and others.

She described a possible walkout over speaking time for backbenchers as “an affront to democracy”.

“Not a single second of time is going to be taken away from their speaking rights, from their ability to put down motions, to ask questions,” the Fine Gael deputy leader said on Today with Claire Byrne.

“What this is about is fairness. If you are a government TD you do not have the same speaking rights as if you are in opposition, I don’t see how that is logical.

“If you look at the UK, a member who is on the government side can ask the Prime Minister a question. It’s the norm, it happens in most other countries.”