Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats and other opposition parties are joining forces to prevent Michael Lowry and other Regional Independent TDs from gaining opposition speaking time. The group argues that these TDs, who participated in government formation talks but did not receive ministerial roles, cannot be considered part of the opposition due to their commitment to support the government.
Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats and other opposition groups will jointly object to the prospect of Michael Lowry and other Regional Independent TDs gaining opposition speaking time. The group is working on a joint submission to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy over its refusal to share time with four Regional Independent Group TDs who negotiated the programme for government but did not receive ministerial jobs.
Michael Lowry, Barry Heneghan, Gillian Toole, and Danny Healy-Rae have all sought to remain in the technical group on the opposition benches with Aontú’s Peadar Tóibín and Paul Lawless and Independent TD Carol Nolan. The opposition has argued Lowry, Heneghan, Toole and Healy-Rae were part of the programme for government negotiations with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and vowed to support the government in "good days and bad". On Friday, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy wrote to all parties suggesting that her legal advice says there is precedent for TDs supporting a government while being in opposition. She said this includes when Fianna Fáil entered a Confidence and Supply Agreement to support Fine Gael in 2016 but "was still considered the main opposition party". The Labour Party shared a draft submission to Ms Murphy with the other opposition parties on Monday. In it, the party denied that Fianna Fáil’s 2016 agreement with Fine Gael was comparable. Labour stated that Fianna Fáil abstained from voting for the election of a Taoiseach and the formation of government. It also did not commit to backing motions of no confidence or financial measures and Fine Gael was never guaranteed of its support.It stated the opposition must "refer to members who do not support the Government" and that it "would be absurd to think that a body of parliamentarians who agreed to a Programme for Government and voted for the nomination of a Taoiseach and the appointment of members to the Government could hold themselves out as members of the opposition." Sinn Féin confirmed that the "five opposition groups will be making a joint submission" to oppose the Regional Group TDs sitting in opposition. It is expected this will be published on Tuesday.A spokesman said: "They participated in government formation talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, reached an agreement with those parties on the text of the Programme for Government, members of that Group are to become Junior Ministers in that Government including some who will sit at Cabinet and perhaps most significantly the lead negotiator on behalf of the Regional Independent Group Michael Lowry T.D. made a public statement to the effect that the group would 'support the next government on the good days and the bad days'. "It is difficult to ascertain how such a conclusion could be reached on any lawful, rational or reasoned basis." Elsewhere, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín defended staying in a technical group with the remaining Regional Independents amid pressure from the Social Democrats for him to withdraw. When asked by the Irish Mirror if he would leave the group or seek another one, he stated that the "only alternative that there is to this group currently is no speaking rights within the Dáil." Join the Irish breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice
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