Waterford TD says he feels the issue of Dail speaking rights should have been the subject of a debate

A Waterford TD says he feels that the issue of Dail speaking rights should have been the subject of a debate.

The new rules see greater speaking rights allocated to government back benchers at the expense of smaller parties and Independent groups,

- move that was subject of furious exchanges in the Dail last night.

Independent Matt Shanahan is one of those who would lose out as a result of the changes.

However he says the move was fair as the rules as they stood favoured smaller parties.