'Government backbenchers have right to contribute' - TD on speaking rights row

James Cox

A Fianna Fáil TD has argued that the Government's speaking rights proposal is a "positive", despite opposition criticism.

Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne told BreakingNews.ie: "It's a positive move, and it is about recognising that every TD has a right to contribute. It can't just be the same small number of opposition TDs taking all the speaking time."

The Government’s move to allocate speaking time to the Regional Independent TDs along with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael backbenchers was voted through by the Dail’s Reform Committee on a margin of 10 votes to eight.

A full Dáil vote on the proposal has been scheduled for next week amid strong criticism from opposition parties.

In a meeting on Tuesday, Opposition leaders agreed to withdraw their cooperation with the Government on facilitating absences of ministers in the Dáil.

The Government and Opposition remain in disagreement on speaking rights for Regional Independent TDs who support the Government.

Mr Byrne said Government backbenchers should be allowed more speaking time.

Mr Byrne said: "One of the challenges is not just about the Independents, it is also about Government backbenchers and the ability of Government backbenchers to contribute to debate... yeah, that has been a problem.

"The chief whip [Mary Butler] has strong support from the Government backbenches for the proposal that she's bringing forward. The Opposition aren't losing any time but what it will provide for is the opportunity for the Government backbenchers to put questions to the Taoiseach, priority questions.

"This is something very similar to what has happened in other parliaments."

On the claims from the Opposition that the proposal is changing democratic norms, Mr Byrne said: "I don't accept that at all. Every TD who is elected has an equal mandate, and has an equal right to speak on behalf of their constituents or to raise national issues.

"It's harder for Government backbenchers to do that... the proposals will still give the Opposition far more speaking time than Government TDs, but it does allow for priority questions from members of government parties."