Aontú defends forming technical group with Independents to secure speaking rights

The move has angered the opposition members of the Dáil Business Committee, who have accused the TDs of attempting to be in Government and opposition at once

Peadar Tóibín said that, without the group, his party would have to 'beg, borrow, and steal the crumbs from the table'. File Picture: Brian Lawless

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has defended his party's decision to form a technical group with members of the Regional Independent Group.

Five of those Independents — Sean Canney, Noel Grealish, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Marian Harkin, and Michael Healy Rae — will be made junior ministers following their input into the drafting of the programme for Government.