The leaders of the opposition parties will write to the Ceann Comhairle and the leaders of the Government seeking a meeting to reach a solution to the Dáil impasse.
Proceedings were suspended after a row erupted over speaking time given to a group of Government-supporting Independents in the opposition benches.
Micheál Martin, who was supposed to be elected Taoiseach today, hit out at Sinn Féin for what he described was a “subversion of the Constitution”.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald hit back and said the Government knew this would be an issue.
“We are united in our position that the Government cannot contrive to have Government TDs designated as members of the opposition,” she said.
A rare sight, the five largest opposition party leaders standing side-by-side and in unison as they call for a leaders meeting with government to resolve the current Dail impasse. pic.twitter.com/z9W1rf3crA
— Andrew Lowth (@AndrewLowth1) January 22, 2025
Ms McDonald said the Government thinking that they could have TDs who were party to the Programme for Government talks sitting as members of opposition was unacceptable and "frankly farcical".
"What transpired today was utterly farcical, and it was a mess created by Government,” she said.
“I frankly think that the commentary that they have made about today are comments of bad faith.
“They know exactly what's happened… this was a trial; this was a ruse, and they believed that they could ramrod this through the Dáil - they can't do that.
“We are the parties and the elected representatives of the opposition; we have to be allowed to do our job.”
People Before Profit-Solidarity leader Richard Boyd Barrett said the Government are not only undermining the opposition but making “a mockery” of themselves.
"It is simply preposterous for Michael Lowry, who is the chief negotiator for the Regional Group, to install a Government, to write a Programme for Government, to endorse that Programme for Government - to pretend he's in the opposition," he said.
"It doesn't only undermine the opposition; it makes a mockery of the government themselves.”
Pictured (l to r) Cian O'Callaghan (Soc Dems), Michael Collins (Independent Ireland), Ivana Bacik (Labour), Mary Lou McDonald, Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP) speak to media outside Leinster House. 22/01/2025 Photograph: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ieSocial Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said the opposition party leaders offered to meet with leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to resolve issues this afternoon – an offer which was denied, allegedly.
He said what happened in the Dáil today should never have happened.
Pictured (l to r) Cian O'Callaghan (Soc Dems), Michael Collins (Independent Ireland), Ivana Bacik (Labour), Mary Lou McDonald(SF), Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP) speak to media outside Leinster House. 22/01/2025 Photograph: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ie
