Government and Opposition parties failed to reach a compromise on an acrimonious row over Dáil speaking time. Independent and Opposition parties traded proposals to defuse the row, but talks broke up without agreement. The Opposition dismissed the Government's proposal of a “hybrid group” and put forward an alternative proposal for a “government-aligned technical group”.
Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Noel Grealish, Gillian Toole, Michael Lowry, Marian Harkin, Barry Heneghan and Sean Canney at Leinster House in Dublin, after a deal was reached to form a government. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
These included a Government suggestion of a “hybrid group” whose members would have full speaking rights associated with the Opposition but who could support the Government on a “case-by-case basis”.Man receiving palliative care for brain cancer still without power after Storm ÉowynMichael Lowry One senior Government source said on Friday that Mr Lowry “can’t be riding two horses”, adding that “the patience in the big actors is running very thin on this”.
A spokesman for Government chief whip Mary Butler said the Coalition had proposed to allow for additional speaking time in the Dáil to address the Opposition’s demand that their speaking time would not be reduced, describing it as a “concession”. The Opposition have called on all party leaders, including Mr Martin and Mr Harris, to meet over the weekend in an effort to find a solution before the Dáil returns on Wednesday.
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