Sinn Féin seeks legal advice after row over regional independents staying in opposition 

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Noel Grealish, Gillian Toole, Michael Lowry, Marian Harkin, Barry Heneghan and Seán Canney at Leinster House in Dublin, after a deal was reached to form the next government, with an agreement finalised between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and the Regional Independent Group.

Sinn Féin is to receive independent legal advice over plans by the Regional Independent Group to sit on the opposition benches, despite their support for the new government.

There were rows in Leinster House on Thursday after a proposal from the Regional Independents was tabled, where they sought to retain a technical group for opposition speaking time.

The plan means that members of the Regional Independents, who are supporting the government, would be able to ask questions of the new coalition in key slots like Leaders’ Questions.

Five of the current Regional Group — Seán Canney, Noel Grealish, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, Marian Harkin, and Michael Healy-Rae — are due to serve in government and are due to resign from the technical group.

There has been widespread criticism of the plan, with Sinn Féin in particular strongly hitting out at the proposal.

Sinn Féin TD for Galway West Mairead Farrell described it as the Regional Independents trying to have it “both ways by being in Government with ministerial roles while still keeping opposition speaking times”.

Sinn Féin has further set out their opposition to the plan, with a party spokesperson confirming they have sought independent legal advice on whether the proposal by the Regional Independents is legal.

“The party is deeply concerned that this proposal, where TDs who support the government and who helped draft the Programme for Government, would sit on the opposition benches to avail of extra speaking time intended for the opposition,” a Sinn Féin spokesperson has said.

“Not only do these so-called independents want the trappings of power, they also want to take away the limited resources afforded to the opposition.” 

There have been calls for new Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy — who was a member of the Regional Independents — to intervene.

This would see Dáil standing orders changed to allow technical groups sit as part of the government, which is currently not permitted.

However, Dáil sources indicated Ms Murphy would not make a decision until a new government is formed next week.