Give northern MPs speaking rights in Oireachtas committees - Tóibín

A TD has called for a change in standing orders to permit MPs elected in the North of Ireland, membership with speaking rights of all Oireachtas Committees

The suggestion is comes from Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín. The Meath West TD has written to the Ceann Comhairle to request the Dáil Reform Committee to bring in the necessary reforms.

Deputy Tóibín made the comments after attending a meeting of the Good Friday Agreement Committee: “Brexit and Covid have brought into sharp relief, in life and death terms, the serious need for stronger All Ireland cooperation and communication.

“Our health service, economy, trade and society would benefit significantly from all-Ireland development in many ways. Given Covid and Brexit, a significant debate is already occurring in civil society about further all Ireland cooperation and unity”.

The former Sinn Féin TD says he has spoken to the committee secretariat in Leinster House and believes there is nothing in law or in the constitution preventing MPs elected North of the border from being able to attend Oireachtas Committee meetings as members. His suggestion stops short of northern MPs from having a vote in the committees.

"I do understand that government parties maybe concerned in terms of votes on legislation etc. However, it should be possible to facilitate membership with speaking rights to MPs elected in the North of Ireland Oireachtas Committees without providing for votes to these members at this point. It would simply require reform of Standing Orders to facilitate this.

“This would allow for better north south understanding, the sharing of information north and south, the cross pollination of ideas, better implementation of key policy such as Covid Suppression Policy and Cost of Brexit amelioration. This would be, in my view, a common sense, practical step that provides real opportunity with no costs.”