'No deal whatsoever' made with Michael Lowry during government negotiations, says Taoiseach

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said: 'Everybody knows that for the RIG to have sleeper agents in Opposition, while still voting for the Government, will not be tolerated by the members of the Dáil.'

Independent TD Michael Lowry arrives at Leinster House. A Dáil Reform Committee has been established aimed at breaking the impasse, but which has not yet found a solution as to where speaking time for a technical group formed by Mr Lowry, Carol Nolan, Mattie McGrath and other regional TDs — Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole — will come from. File photo: Brian Lawless/PA

The government made "no deal" with Michael Lowry in relation to Dáil speaking rights when negotiating a programme for government, the Taoiseach has said.

The row over whether or not regional TDs who negotiated the programme but did not take up ministerial positions would speak from the opposition benches led to unprecedented scenes last week when the Dáil was adjourned before voting for Micheál Martin as Taoiseach.