Fianna Fáil agrees deal with Fine Gael on committee chairmanships

FIANNA FÁIL last night agreed a deal with Fine Gael on the awarding of Oireachtas committee chairmanships, thereby avoiding a confrontation in the Dáil.

Fine Gael had threatened to escalate disruptive action in the Dáil, if Fianna Fáil did not give the main opposition party more of the lucrative positions.

Fine Gael argued that its increased size in the Dáil following the general election merited a greater share of the chairmanships.