Delay in committee formation ‘outrageous’, Sinn Fein says

Irish parliamentary committees may not be formed until May, Sinn Fein has warned, amid a bitter dispute which has left Ireland’s main opposition parties completely at odds with Government.

An ongoing row over speaking rights in the Dail has led to a lack of co-operation to establish the committees, which are vital for the legislative duties of the parliament.

Both the Government and opposition parties have stressed the need for the resumption of the work of the committees amid the heated division in the Dail, which delayed the nomination of a Taoiseach and resulted in the suspension of the House amid widespread disruption last week.

However, Sinn Fein has raised concern that the Dail Reform Committee involving Government and opposition whips is not due to meet on Wednesday, and has cast doubt on when when committees will be formed.

On Tuesday, the opposition parties were defeated as a Government motion expressing confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy was passed.

That motion was brought in response to opposition complaints that Ms Murphy had been biased in her role in implementing the changes to Dail rules brought forward by Government.

After the vote, Sinn Fein chief whip Padraig Mac Lochlainn said: “On February 4 last, the Ceann Comhairle acted on independent legal advice and ruled that the Michael Lowry Regional Independent group were government TDs and could not therefore form a group in opposition.

“At the point, the D’Hondt process should have commenced and Oireachtas Committees should have been formed.

“By their actions since, this government have delayed the formation of Oireachtas Committees and the latest estimates are that it will be May before they are up and running.

“That’s three months lost. It is outrageous.”

A spokesman for the Government chief whip said: “The commitment at the Business Committee last week was that a meeting would be held as soon as possible after the confidence motion.

“The scheduling of the meeting is a matter for all members and the secretariat.

“The necessary preparation work by government to initiate the establishment of committees is ongoing.”

A spokesman for the Social Democrats said it has been calling for the formation of committees for months.

“Now that the vote is over, it is incumbent on the Government to immediately set up Dail committees and finally get down to work,” he added.

The Dail Business Committee is due to meet on Thursday.