Another bunfight beckons in the Dáil today: the Dáil reform committee (with proposals backed by Govt and SF) is reassigning speaking time so that the smaller parties and independent groups are squeezed. Currently they have disproportionate speaking time but won’t cede it lightly!
A (fairly crude) illustration of what is proposed for a debate on a new Bill. Basically the Government and SF will get an extra speaking slot between the opposition parties and proportionately more time.
Other parties say new proportions are okay but sequencing marginalises them
Jennifer Whitmore of the SocDems raising this on the floor now. Varadkar says he is "not au fait with the details" but says it is "entirely appropriate" that speaking time be allocated in a proportionate way, otherwise "microparties" get time and Govt backbenchers do not
"We are going to re-establish democracy in this House," says Varadkar, which goes down … less than well. #Dáil
I hear this is potentially being revised by the Business Committee this lunchtime - and only appeared very briefly on the Dáil agenda earlier before being quietly taken off it again
Marian Harkin raising this on the Dáil floor now too. Her group's speaking time would now be preceded by six different Government speakers. Compares it to European Parliament where all parties, irrespective of size, get to speak in the first round of debate.
ℹ️ I hear a compromise has been put on the table. All parties would get to speak in the first round of a debate (though with a bit less time for smaller groups); larger groups would claim more time in later rounds. Overall time is proportionate but small groups not marginalised
🚨 The compromise is off. The Government parties are unwilling to accept this practice and want to go ahead with their original, where every opposition group (except Labour) would be delayed by additional Govt and SF speakers. Set to be put to an acrimonious vote later
I hear it was pointed out at the Business Committee that a speaking order like this, where only limited parties get to contribute in the first round of debate, has not been used in the Dáil since 1921-22 👀
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