Fine Gael proposal aims to win Independents’ votes by boosting speaking rights

Fine Gael is willing to increase the number of ‘technical’ groups in the Dáil, boosting their speaking rights, in a move widely viewed as an attempt to win the votes of Independent TDs and smaller parties for Enda Kenny as Taoiseach.

The proposals come as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil remain in a standoff about talking to each other on government options — while only talking with smaller parties and Independents.

Fine Gael released its proposals for Dáil reform yesterday, which include plans for increasing the number of technical groups and thereby giving smaller groups in the Dáil more speaking time.