Backlash after Michael Lowry proposes that he and other Independents supporting next Coalition sit on Opposition benches
Michael Lowry, centre, says he has supported the last 'five or six governments' while in opposition. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien / The Irish Times
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Under the proposals put forward by Mr Lowry, the other Independents who would be part of a new technical group are Meath East TD Gillian Toole, Dublin Bay North TD Barry Heneghan and Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae. Mr MacLochlainn referred to the standing orders and questioned how they could be interpreted to allow Government TDs to be part of technical groups.
Put to him that those supporting the Government are not Opposition members as outlined in the standing orders, he said: “The bottom line is we’re acting as Independents and we can exercise the mandate that we have as an Independent.”Mr Lowry said he had already supported “the last five or six governments from the opposition benches. There’s nothing different about it.”
Padraig-Mac-Lochlainn Verona-Murphy Sean-Canney Michael-Healy-Rae Noel-Grealish Kevin-Boxer-Moran Marian-Harkin Dail-Eireann
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