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'Exiled' party members granted speaking rights in Dáil

The TDs were informed about the Ceann Comhairle’s decision tonight, just hours before the Dáil returns from recess.

LUCINDA CREIGHTON AND other members of the newly-formed Reform Alliance will be allowed speaking time in the Dáil when it returns from recess tomorrow.

The former Fine Gael junior minister said she was “very grateful” to the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating those “exiled” from their parliamentary parties with “some vital Dáil speaking time”.

Dáil Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett informed the 12 TDs who have lost either the Fine Gael or Labour party whip since taking office in 2011 that they would be granted some speaking time on government business.

Usually, the rotation of Dáil speakers includes only government members, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group.

A note from Barrett’s office informed the deputies – including the five Dáil members of the RA and former Labour members Colm Keaveny and Róisín Shortall –  that “some speaking slots for ‘others’ will be incorporated in the rotation” from tomorrow on.

The ‘others’ slots are intended for use by members who do not have access to the speakers lists prepared by the parties or the Technical Group. The number of ‘others’ slots will be calculated proportionately, based on the overall numbers of members. Members wishing to avail of a portion of the time allowed will be obliged to indicate their intentions to the chair.

The surprise move is solely the work of the Ceann Comhairle. It comes in the wake of reported disagreements between his office and government over a lack of consultation on Dáil reform proposals announced last week and a row over the appointment of a new clerk of Dáil Éireann to succeed to the retired Kieran Coughlan.

Chief Whip Paul Kehoe was not aware of the decision confirmed tonight. He told TheJournal.ie that he had not yet seen the email correspondence and so could not comment.

The so-called rebels will not be allowed participate in Leaders’ Questions or be given Private Members’ Time, where they could propose their own bills and motions.

Additional reporting by Hugh O’Connell

Like politics? Then why not ‘Like’ TheJournal.ie Politics on Facebook to keep up to date with all that’s happening in and outside of Leinster House.

Previously: Reform Alliance unlikely to get speaking rights in the Dáil

Mathews: ‘The Seanad is like a car with 90-day brakes and I like to be in a car that has brakes’

Creighton: ‘I don’t have any anti-Enda sentiment, I just want to get on with the job’

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45 Comments
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    Mute CAPITAINE ADEBAYO
    Favourite CAPITAINE ADEBAYO
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    Feb 11th 2014, 11:02 AM

    Thanks google. Thanks for starting a world where people walk around recording each other. I will never wear these.

    66
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    Mute Jeremy Usbourne
    Favourite Jeremy Usbourne
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    Feb 11th 2014, 10:54 AM

    Should read.

    “Silly Virgin Atlantic press release, amounts to vast amounts of free advertising”

    46
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    Mute Heather Knowles
    Favourite Heather Knowles
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    Feb 11th 2014, 11:21 AM

    Minority Report meets Skynet

    42
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    Mute Tom Keating
    Favourite Tom Keating
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    Feb 11th 2014, 12:32 PM

    Time for infrared necklaces for everyone so you can protect your identity.

    26
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    Mute Barry Doyle
    Favourite Barry Doyle
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    Feb 11th 2014, 11:30 AM

    Welcome to the world of tomorrow

    24
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    Mute Dylan McDonald
    Favourite Dylan McDonald
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    Feb 11th 2014, 1:04 PM

    I’m a tech geek at heart and this technology is really cool BUT people have to be realistic and open there eyes, this is potentially one of the worst things to ever hit the self’s, privacy as we know it will be gone and our kids will never no what it is! Once its gone it will never come back, Scott Barry style

    19
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    Mute bopter
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    Feb 12th 2014, 12:19 AM

    Fyi tech geeks tend to have good grammar and spelling.

    3
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    Mute bandido
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    Feb 11th 2014, 2:19 PM

    The thing I’m dreading most about this technology is women walking down the street behind me checking out my sweet little ass.
    It gives them the capability to perv on me when I’m not even around!

    17
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    Mute Butter bean
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    Feb 11th 2014, 11:49 AM

    Yeah because you can’t walk around recording people on you phone this last ten years.
    Good one Adebayo.

    14
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    Mute Heather Knowles
    Favourite Heather Knowles
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    Feb 11th 2014, 3:36 PM

    Big difference in phone recording and these glasses. A few examples, your on a beach with your toddler and some stranger starts pointing a phone at your child filming them. If your a vigilant parent your going to notice this and one way or another put a stop to it and make other people aware of a potential pervert in your midst. Beach full of people lots wearing glasses any sicko can now do this unnoticed. Burgler scoping out your house standing with phone risk of being seen. Burgler walking slowly along with glasses on no problem. Taking cash out at an ATM using card in shop etc person with glasses good chance they can zoom in on your pin. Seriously dangerous piecof technology in the wrong hands and that’s aside from everyday invasions of privacy.

    16
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    Mute CAPITAINE ADEBAYO
    Favourite CAPITAINE ADEBAYO
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    Feb 11th 2014, 3:44 PM

    Soz, only seeing this now as you didn’t hit reply. Walking around with a phone outstretched pointing in someones face since 2004 isnt something I have seen too much of, in day to day life, like transactions at a till etc but hey maybe I haven’t been paying attention.

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    Mute Pádraig Reardon
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    Feb 11th 2014, 5:20 PM

    PIN numbers are so last year love! We have fingerprint scanners here in Brazil now no need for a PIN number so don’t be worrying!

    1
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    Mute Pádraig Reardon
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    Feb 11th 2014, 5:21 PM

    *On all ATM machines

    1
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Feb 11th 2014, 12:44 PM

    I foresee (sorry!) terrible eye problems down the line if these become the norm.

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    Mute Julian King
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    Feb 11th 2014, 12:27 PM

    I remember these from ‘Beyond 2000′!

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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Feb 11th 2014, 11:56 AM

    Welcome to the future. Bare in mind that the airlines have been the test bed for realtime transactions and date analysis since the 1960′s.

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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    Feb 12th 2014, 10:26 AM

    I like Virgin Atlantic. I flew here via London from SFO. Treated like a human being. Wonderful staff. Comfortable seats (and I’m 6’4″, 210lbs). The other airlines should pay attention to VA. They know how to treat people.
    The glasses? Couldn’t care less. The terminal is plastered with cameras anyway.

    1
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