Dáil Gets an Extra Two Weeks Holidays While ‘Independents’ Are Looked After

Dáil Gets an Extra Two Weeks Holidays While ‘Independents’ Are Looked After

The behaviour of new government shows that we have returned to the era of ‘cute hoor’ politics.

After voting back Micheál Martin as Taoiseach, the Dáil will get yet another break for two weeks. The excuse is that the Ministers need time to study their briefs.

Imagine if a worker asked for more holidays to ‘study their brief’.

Then the new Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy, who is an ‘independent’, has ruled that her fellow independents can both support the government and sit on the opposition benches. In other words, have their cake and eat it.

They want to keep up the pretence that they have not propped up the political establishment – but most people can see through it.

People Before Profit has signed an opposition submission to the Ceann Comhairle challenging her claim that non-party members who have agreed to support the Government, are eligible to sit in the opposition.  

This afternoon the combined Dáil opposition made a detailed submission to the Ceann Comhairle challenging her claim that non-party members who are not a Minister or Minister of State, and who have agreed to support the Government, are eligible to be part of a technical group.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said ‘It is simply untenable for the Regional Independent Group TDs in question to be part of the Dáil opposition. It is therefore essential that the Ceann Comhairle moves speedily to respond to the submission and to ensure that the normal functioning of the Dáil is restored.’