Row over 'Michael Lowry and his underlings' has put Dáil into 'cold storage', TDs told
Independent TD Michael Lowry who is part of the Regional Independent TD group at the centre of the Dáil speaking controversy. File photo: Grainne Ni Aodha/PA
A row over Michael Lowry and his "underlings" has plunged the Dáil into "cold storage" which has stymied the progression of legislation, according to Sinn Féin.
There were sparky interactions as members of the Opposition rounded on Taoiseach Micheál Martin over the ongoing speaking controversy, which has prevented the setting up of Oireachtas committees and the scrutiny of new laws.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald highlighted the fact that it is now four months on from the general election, with only 10 more sitting days until the Easter recess and yet just one piece of legislation to allow for a greater number of junior ministers has been passed.
"We have no committees established and the Government has sat on that. It has proven itself to be truly a do-nothing Government. The Dáil is effectively in cold storage. The Government priority is to placate Deputy Michael Lowry and his underlings with the pretence and fiction that they can carry out Opposition functions here in the Dáil," she said.
She called on the Government to "desist from this course of action" and to respect the role of the Opposition "to get on with our work and, dare I suggest it, you get on with yours".
A vote on new rules around speaking time put forward by the Government, which the Opposition continues to vehemently oppose, is due to take place next week. However, until the row is resolved Oireachtas committees cannot be set up.
Labour Leader Ivana Bacik said many in the Opposition are "very concerned" to hear the Government suggesting that they are somehow delaying the formation of committees.
"It is the Government that is seeking to change standing orders," she told the Dáil.
"The Ceann Comhairle ruled on the Lowry lads’ status that they are not a technical group in opposition. We in opposition are abiding by that ruling of the Ceann Comhairle. The Government is looking to change it."
Proposing that the Dáil sit for an extra day both this week and next to settle the speaking rights issue, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said: "This is a legislature that cannot legislate. We are a democratically elected parliament that cannot deliver legislation because there are no committees due to the dysfunction here."
Responding to the criticism, Mr Martin suggested that legislation could be passed in the Dáil without committees.
"If Opposition deputies do not want to form committees and want to be a barrier to the formation of committees, that is their business," he said.
Mr Martin accused Opposition politicians of "empty soundbites" stressing that a government was being formed, which in the modern era takes some time.
"I come in today and see that we are the do-nothing Government, so it sounds familiar, but I suppose people have to keep on learning and innovating in terms of political opposition.
"We want to establish Oireachtas committees and we are not holding that up in any shape or form. I would respectfully suggest that the deputies opposite agree to the formation of committees and not get in the way of them being formed.
"Government is getting on with it. We will continue to do what we have to do with regard to decisions."
