Dáil technical group likely to split over Flanagan furore

Growing tensions within the Dáil’s block of Independent TDs looks likely to see it break up in the wake of the Luke “Ming” Flanagan penalty points controversy.

Left-leaning non-party TDs are keen to distance themselves from Mr Flan-agan, tax cheat Mick Wallace, and right-winger Shane Ross.

Meetings of Independent TDs are taking place to decide which way to go forward.

As revealed in the Irish Examiner last month, four rebel Labour TDs are pushing for their own speaking rights in the Dáil after quitting Eamon Gilmore’s party in anger at the austerity agenda of the Coalition.

Some members of that bloc are keen to break up the current technical group and form a new faction in the Dáil with leftist Independent TDs.

The current Oireachtas rules state that only one technical group can exist at any one time and it must have at least seven members to qualify for extra speaking time in the Dáil.

Technical group leader and Waterford TD John Halligan insists no decision has yet been taken on changing the Dáil make-up, but concedes a left-leaning alternative could be desirable.

“It is all up in the air at the moment whether the technical group will remain the same or a new left group will emerge.

“I think a moderately left political party is needed in the Dáil, and that might include ex-Labour TDs as the Labour Party cannot really be described as left now that it is in Government.

“I do not know what will happen to the four ex-Labour TDs as they do not have the numbers to gain speaking rights on their own.

“It would be a shame if such articulate and experienced people did not have a proper voice in the remaining three years of this Dáil.”

Many Independents are deeply angry at the way Mr Flanagan conducted himself after it was revealed he had kept quiet about having driving penalty points quashed — despite leading a high-profile campaign against such practices.

Under Dáil rules, he cannot be forced from the technical group, despite being urged to do so by Mr Halligan and others.

Independents fear that Mr Flanagan and Mr Wallace have damaged the political standing of the group as a whole by their behaviour.

Left-leaning TDs also resent being represented at leaders’ questions on occasion by right-wing former journalist Ross.

Labour rebel TDs Róisín Shortall and Tommy Broughan are believed to be the most active in trying to shake up the opposition benches.