Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has hit out at comments made by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin today regarding the speaking time allocated to smaller parties in the Dáil.
Deputy Murphy described his proposals as an attempt to silence opposition and said that Fiánna Fail effectively want to control both sides of the House by straddling the fence between Government and Opposition. She said she would be speaking to representatives from other smaller parties in the Dáil to ensure a cohesive rejection of Fianna Fáil’s proposal.
Catherine Murphy TD said:
“Fianna Fail want the best of both worlds, they already have the benefit of having one foot in Government and one foot in opposition and now they want to effectively silence those of us who actually present real opposition to what is essentially a cosy Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael arrangement in the House.
“While Fianna Fáil may, in name only, be the main opposition party, their deal to support the Fine Gael minority Government ensures that they do not offer a credible opposition. In such a scenario the rest of the opposition become vital at holding the minority government and its supporters to account.
“For Fianna Fáil to try and dilute that opposition is yet another breathtakingly arrogant move by a party who seem to be confused about whether they are in Government or Opposition.”
ENDS
13 June 2017