O’Callaghan dubs independents speaking time plan “Orwellian rubbish”

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has called government attempts to solve the speaking time row surrounding independents as “Orwellian rubbish.”

The Dublin Bay North TD and acting leader of the Soc Dems has dubbed the independents which support the government “Lowry Independents” and has criticised government attempts to change Dáil rules to facilitate their speaking time.

In January, controversy erupted as there was ambiguity whether the four independent TDs which are backing the government – including O’Callaghan’s own Dublin Bay North stable mate Barry Heneghan – should be designated Dáil speaking time as members of the government or the opposition.

O’Callaghan dismissed the government’s submission as “outrageous.”

“Their submission states: “A modern parliament is not necessarily made up of ‘government’ and ‘opposition’ members, and there are members who can’t readily be categorised as such”.

He called the submission “frankly Orwellian rubbish is beneath contempt.”

“Unless the government is basing its analysis on autocratic regimes, it is clear in every modern democratic parliament where the demarcation between government and opposition lies.”

“The government don’t need to listen to me in relation to this. All they need to do is review a multiplicity of public statements made by members of the Lowry Independents in which they declared themselves to be proud members of the government,” he said.

“Lowry Independents may want to have their cake and eat it too, but the question is why are Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael so hell-bent on accommodating them?”

He stated “this attempt to carve up Dáil speaking time, and deny the reality that Lowry Independents are government backbench TDs, is dangerous and damaging.”

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael made a mess of this debacle when the Dáil returned. Are they now going to create further chaos by proceeding with these anti-democratic proposals?”