It is an indictment of the way this government intends to operate that a political stroke is its very first act
Micheál Martin and Simon Harris must clarify if they are happy for Regional Independent TDs to hijack Dáil speaking time set aside to allow the Opposition hold government to account, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan.
“In an interview with his local paper this week, Michael Lowry – the kingmaker who put this government together – noted that Regional Independents had secured a “fantastic result” in government formation talks.
“Mr Lowry noted the group had secured “a Ceann Comhairle, two Super Junior Ministers, and two Junior Ministers” and that “all of them have very important roles and functions within a wide variety of departments”.
“He then stated: “It gives us a comfortable majority in the Dáil, and allows us to get on with the work now of governing, and to give a stable and steady Government and to make the decisions that are needed in the public interest”.
“Meanwhile, Mr Lowry and other Regional Independent TDs – who entered a deal to form the incoming government – are attempting to maintain the fiction that they remain unaligned Independent TDs entitled to Opposition speaking time in the Dáil. Who are they trying to kid?
“This is not just an attempt to have their cake and eat it, it is an attempt to undermine the Opposition by hijacking limited Dáil speaking time which is set aside for the Opposition.
“A strong Opposition, which holds the government to account, is an integral part of a strong democracy. This farce, in which Schrodinger’s Independents claim to be both in and out of government, is an attempt to weaken the Opposition and amounts to an attack on our democracy.
“The Regional Independents used their eight Dáil votes to do a deal and form a new government. They must now live with the consequences of that deal – an obvious one being they are no longer members of the Opposition.
“It is an indictment of the way this government intends to operate that a political stroke is its very first act.
“The leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, Micheál Martin and Simon Harris, must now clarify if they are happy to stand over this fiasco. They need to show some leadership. The credibility of our democratic processes must be restored.”
19 January, 2025