The opposition parties are set to meet with the leaders of the coalition this morning following multiple suspensions of the Dáil yesterday.
They are hoping to resolve the issues which led to the delaying of the election of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach.
The house was suspended until 9am this morning but that time has already been pushed back to 10.30am.
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
The 34th Dáil met for the first time this year yesterday in order to elect a new Taoiseach.
However, they barely got past approving the order of business after the opposition hit out at the Ceann Comhairle for allowing a portion of their speaking time to a group of Independents including Michael Lowry.
The Regional Group have four junior ministries in the new Government and the remaining three plus Danny Healy-Rae were trying to take their place in the opposition benches.
It led to explosive scenes in the Dáil Chamber with the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy eventually suspending the Dáil for the fourth time until this morning.
Opposition
The leaders of the opposition parties - Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald, People Before Profit-Solidarity's Richard Boyd Barrett, Social Democrats' deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan, Labour's Ivana Bacik and Independent Ireland's Michael Collins - said they were "united" in their position regarding the issue.
Micheál Martin, who was supposed to be elected Taoiseach yesterday, hit out at Sinn Féin for what he described as a "subversion of the Constitution".
The outgoing Taoiseach Simon Harris meanwhile accused Sinn Féin of "stunt politics".
If there is some common ground found, Mr Martin will be elected Taoiseach today and will appoint his Cabinet this afternoon.
Feature image: Pictured (l to r) Cian O'Callaghan (Soc Dems), Michael Collins (Independent Ireland), Ivana Bacik (Labour), Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Féin), Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP) speak to media outside Leinster House. Photograph: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ie
