Last night the Government finally published its proposed changes to Standing Orders to dilute and weaken the Dáil opposition by giving the Lowry Group and other Government backbenchers speaking opportunities previously reserved exclusively for the opposition.
The motion that would implement the proposed changes is scheduled to be taken in the Dáil next Tuesday without debate. At the Oireachtas Business Committee meeting this morning, all opposition parties and groups expressed in the strongest possible terms that they are opposed to this unprecedented move taking place without debate.
Richard Boyd Barrett said 'Last night we finally got sight of the Government's proposed changes to Oireachtas Standing Orders and it's even worse than we thought. I represented the Independents & Parties Technical Group at the Oireachtas Business Committee meeting this morning where myself and other opposition representatives appealed to the Government and the Ceann Comhairle to at least allow a Dáil debate on the proposed changes to standing orders. It is unprecedented that a motion that is contested is nonetheless to be taken without debate. However the Government refused to even agree to a debate.
'The proposals also confirm the outrageous plan that Taoiseach’s Questions will only happen once a week, halved from twice a week previously. This would dramatically reduce the Taoiseach’s accountability to the Dáil and the ability of all Dáil members to question the Taoiseach. This is part of the emerging pattern of the Government reducing and diluting the opposition’s opportunities to hold the government to account in the Dáil. All of this is alarming and none of it will be accepted by us'.
Paul Murphy said 'This is getting worse and worse. The proposals now include Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael backbenchers along with the Lowry group as "Other Members" with an entitlement to effectively participate in Leaders Questions and other key speaking opportunities previously reserved exclusively for members of the opposition.
In addition, it is unclear what the implications of the new standing orders are for Oireachtas Committee membership. We have concerns that the next thing the Government will do is attempt to also undermine the opposition in these important committees.'
The decision of the Business Committee this morning means the motion will be voted on next week without members of the Dáil having the opportunity to debate it. The Government is now using strong arm tactics to ram through its undemocratic proposals to undermine the opposition in the Dáil. This adds insult to the grievous and growing injury of the proposals themselves.
Deputy Boyd Barrett said 'The Independents & Parties Technical Group will oppose this in the Dáil next Tuesday because it matters. We have seen how Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael misled people during the election campaign about expected housing completions in 2024. It is crucial that the opposition retains its current opportunities to hold the government to account on the ever worsening housing disaster, on the continuing scandal of lack of school places, and resources for children with special education needs and on many other important issues. The opposition will stridently defend its right to hold the government to account'.