Opposition parties have agreed to withdraw co-operation with the Government on facilitating absences of Ministers from the Dáil as the row over speaking rights continues.
Fiery exchanges took place in the Dáil as ill feeling grows between Government and Opposition over the impasse, with a proposal for a resolution acceptable to all sides dubbed a “con”.
A meeting of Opposition leaders and whips made the pairing decision in the wake of the Government using its majority on the Dáil Reform Committee to push through proposals to change Dáil rules to allow Independent TDs who back the Government additional speaking rights.
Opposition leaders have fiercely criticised the Government move arguing that the Coalition’s proposals are “dangerous” and “utterly farcical”.
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It was agreed at Thursday morning’s meeting that the Opposition would withdraw pairing – an arrangement that sees their TDs agree not to participate in Dáil votes to allow for a Minister or Government TD’s absence from the Chamber, including for reasons of official business abroad.
The also agreed to register their dissent at the Government’s actions at a Dáil business committee meeting on Thursday.
The long-running speaking row dispute centres on Government efforts to carve out specific speaking time for a small group of Independent TDs led by Michael Lowry who support the Coalition.
In a statement on Wednesday night, Government chief whip Mary Butler said “under the Government proposal there won’t be any reduction in Opposition speaking time”.
This has been disputed by the Opposition.
Ms Butler said the proposals will ensure that all backbench TDs in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael as well as Independents supporting the Government “will be able to access speaking time”.
She said the “drafting of amending standing orders will now be completed and brought to the Dáil for a vote of all members”.
The Opposition is seeking clarity on when the Dáil vote will take place.
On Wednesday night Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald argued that the actions of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were “dangerous”, “unprecedented” and “a clear attempt to turn logic and the rules and functioning of the Dáil on their head”.
She said the Opposition would consider “all options” for how to respond.
Speaking rights dominated leaders’ questions in the Dáil with heated exchanges and persistent interruptions and accusations from both Government and opposition benches.
Sinn Féin justice spokesman Matt Carthy warned of the Government move on speaking rights that “this isn’t going to fly. The combined opposition will fight this every step of the way.”
But the Tánaiste rounded on the Opposition for blocking the pairing arrangement and said “shame on you” as he staunchly defended the Government’s approach to speaking rights.
Mr Carthy said the decision to “ram through” the Government’s “grubby deal” and to allow Independent TDs led by Mr Lowry to have leaders’ questions time “makes a mockery of this Dáil”.
Mr Carthy claimed that Tánaiste Simon Harris and Taoiseach Micheál Martin “have made Michael Lowry the king maker in your government, and now you provide him with cover.
“It seems that you will stop at nothing to protect deputy Lowry and your grubby deal. You intend to throw the Oireachtas into chaos.”
The Tánaiste however staunchly defended the move and hit out at the Opposition for refusing to grant pairs for when Government TDs are away on official business.
“What you have done in opposition today is utterly childish because when it has never been more important for Government ministers to go abroad and represent this country on trade talks, on tariff talks, on Ukraine, on the Middle East, an issue you say you care about.
“What have you decided to do? Block the pairs so people can’t travel. Shame on you.”
When Mr Carthy said “don’t ask people to buy that rubbish. You might treat your own back benchers as idiots, but you won’t take the Irish people [for idiots]”, there was uproar on the Government benches and calls for him to withdraw his remarks.
When Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy called on him to do so, he said “I’m sorry you’re treating your backbenchers this way.”
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon accused the Government of taking “the nuclear option” and claimed the offer to bring a solution acceptable to both sides was another “con”.
Mr Harris said “we’re talking about eight minutes twice a week where Government backbench TDs and Independent TDs who aren’t aligned being allowed to raise a questions on behalf of their constituents”.
He added: “I think that’s perfectly reasonable.”
