The Dáil was briefly suspended this evening after a major row broke out between Government and opposition.
Government TDs are looking to change the rules around speaking time to give them and Sinn Féin more of a voice during debates.
However, smaller opposition groups have been resisting the change, as they will be pushed down the running order to less desirable slots.
Having lost all control Catherine Connolly suspends the house for 10 minutes
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) July 30, 2020
Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin launched a scathing attack on the opposition over the motion.
He said: "We're entitled to have our speaking time on behalf of the people who elected us.
"You don't have a monopoly on moral authority in here - all of us have our mandates; all of us were elected by the people of our constituency; and we will not be denied our right to speak by the people we represent."
People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett, meanwhile, slammed the plans from the Government.
He said: "This is an abuse of the Government's majority. Sickeningly, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens [are] lining up to drive a coach and horses through the process of democratic reform.
"This is a move to gag the opposition in the most shameful way."
Amid the row, the Dáil was suspended for ten minutes.
Tonight's Dáil sitting is the final planned meeting of the House ahead of the summer recess.
