The Opposition has responded with fury after the Government used 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.
The committee voted by 10 members to eight to pass the Coalition’s proposals at a crunch meeting of the committee on Wednesday evening.
The 10 votes were cast by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael members.
Opposition leaders fiercely criticised the Government move at a press conference at Leinster House a short time later with the Coalition’s actions described as “dangerous”, “utterly farcical” and “disgraceful.
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Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Opposition will explore “all options” to resist the proposed changes to the Dáil speaking rules when asked about the prospect of bids to block Dáil business, halt the setting up of committees or the possibility of a walkout by TDs.
The Opposition leaders will meet on Thursday to discuss their next moves.
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.”
It is expected that this vote will take place next week.
Ms 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.”
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said the Opposition was “gobsmacked by what Government did tonight, forcing through a vote at the Dáil Reform committee on really hastily and badly drafted proposals that make a mockery of Dáil standing orders, of the democratic process”.
She said: “Our duty is to hold Government to account in the Dáil and now there is the creation of another entity, these other members’ questions – utterly farcical.”
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said what happened at the committee was “absolutely disgraceful” and he asked: “What deal has [Taoiseach] Micheál Martin and [Tánaiste] Simon Harris done with Michael Lowry?”
Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan said what is being proposed is “completely and utterly unacceptable.”
He claimed the debate at the committee “was just a sham and the Government appear determined to ram through their undemocratic proposals.”
People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett said it was “one of the worst exercises in cynicism” he has seen during his time in the Dáil.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy told Opposition party leaders it has “become clear” that there will be no consensus on the ongoing dispute over Dáil speaking rights.
Ms Murphy said she cannot intervene in the process of changing Dáil standing orders and it will be up to TDs to determine what, if any, amendments should be made to the speaking rules.
