Row erupts over regional independent group's opposition status

Members of the Regional Independent Group Michael Lowry (centre) and (left to right) Gillian Toole, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Noel Grealish, Barry Heneghan, Marian Harkin, and Sean Canney speaking to the media at Leinster House in Dublin. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Opposition parties are expected to jointly submit a rejection of the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy's decision to allow members of the regional independent group sit in the opposition benches.

Ms Murphy last week wrote to politicians informing them that it was her belief that members of the group which had negotiated the program for government should be allowed now sit in the opposition and ask questions as opposition politicians.