Smaller parties come together to fight Fianna Fáil plans to silence opposition voices

Green Party, Solidarity-People Before Profit, the Rural Alliance, Social Democrats and Independents4Change will work together to oppose changes to Dáil speaking times

Green Party, Solidarity-People Before Profit, the Rural Alliance, Social Democrats and Independents4Change came together for a joint press conference today to oppose the plans, championed by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin TD.

Speaking following the press conference, Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan TD said: “We are joining with other opposition parties to fight against Fianna Fáil’s plans to silence and shorten our Dáil contributions.

“Analysis carried out for the Dáil Reform Committee has shown that the new Dáil arrangements do reflect the representation of each grouping. If anything, larger parties such as Fianna Fáil have a disproportionate advantage as they always get to speak first, which is not counted in any of the allocation of time.

“The one area where smaller parties are given some leeway is during the likes of pre-European Council statements which will take place next week. We have already amended the rules to allow for a second round of contributors so that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael backbenchers can get a chance to come in.

“Fianna Fáil want to go further and change the whole system so that smaller parties, like ourselves, would only have one or two minutes to make their point. It is not possible to make any sort of meaningful contribution in such a short time and the proposals run counter to what has worked in this house for decades.

“At the start of this Dáil Micheál Martin said his first priority was to seek cross party support for real political reform. One year later he has abandoned that ambitions and wants to silence proper debate. We will do everything we can to block his plans and ensure that diverse voices continue to get a fair hearing.”