Regional Independents named 'unaligned members' in bid to break speaking rights deadlock

It has been immediately criticised by the opposition, with one TD saying it would be allowing the Regional Independents to remain as a 'faux opposition grouping'

Independent TD Michael Lowry wants to join the technical group of unaligned members. Picture: Alan Rowlette / RollingNews.ie

The Regional Independent Group of TDs will be declared unaligned and be permitted to question senior Government ministers, as part of a coalition proposal to break the speaking rights deadlock.

The proposal from Chief Whip Mary Butler is to create a new group of ‘unaligned members’, with the group being separate to both the government and opposition.