Kenneth Fox
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste are expected to meet opposition leaders on Tuesday in a bid to avert further Dáil chaos over speaking rights.
As the Irish Examiner reports, it comes as lengthy discussions failed to reach agreement in what has become a protracted row centred around Michael Lowry’s regional technical group, which is seeking speaking slots during opposition time despite supporting the Government.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik spoke to Micheál Martin and Simon Harris by phone on Sunday on the matter while Sinn Féin president Mary Lou Donald has also demanded a discussion of leaders from across the Oireachtas.
Ms McDonald has said that while the opposition is willing to consider all proposals, parties are “not prepared to be pushed around by the Government”.
Mr Martin is out of the country on Monday as he attends a meeting of EU leaders, so Tuesday afternoon is the earliest that a cross-party meeting is possible.
It is understood the opposition has asked that a meeting of the Dáil reform committee, which engaged in over 10 hours of discussions last week, be pushed back until after leaders meet with Mr Martin and Mr Harris.
It means that any solution could go down to the wire ahead of the next Dáil sitting on Wednesday.
It comes as Mr Martin has been urged to appoint women and those from minority backgrounds as part of his Seanad appointees after coming in for criticism over his choice of ministers.
Labour TD Marie Sherlock said the Government leaders will show their “real colours” with the 11 Taoiseach’s nominees that are due to be announced in the coming days.
Ms Sherlock said: “Do they want to have the reality and diversity of our country reflected in our parliament or will they look after their own?
“By right, we should see women and LGBTQ promoted from migrant, trade union, and other rights-based organisations so we can begin to claim that the legislature is becoming more like a mirror of society itself,” she said.
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