Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael 'should cut all ties with Michael Lowry' 

Opposition call on the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to convene a meeting of party leaders to put an end to the row before the Dáil resumes on Wednesday

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan and fellow TD Aidan Farrelly talking to the media at Leinster House about the impasse about Dáil reform and speaking time. Picture: Leah Farrell/Rolling News

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been urged to “cut all ties” with Michael Lowry as a protracted row on Dáil speaking rights remains in deadlock.

After a day of meetings and break-out negotiations, a dispute between the opposition and Government parties has failed to reach a resolution with some refusing to rule out further chaos when the Dáil resumes next week if a solution is not found.

The opposition has now called on the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to meet all of the party leaders over the weekend in order to put an end to the ongoing row before the Dáil resumes on Wednesday.

A proposal put forward by the Government for a "hybrid group" was viewed by the opposition as being stronger and more hard-lined than ones put forth earlier in the week.

In a joint letter to the Government, the Opposition leaders called the situation "entirely unacceptable" and said the proposed hybrid group is a transparent attempt to benefit members of said group.

The row, which resulted in the Dáil being suspended multiple times last week, centres around an attempt by the Rural Independents to gain speaking slots during opposition time despite propping up the Government.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said under the terms of this hybrid group, Mr Lowry's group would enjoy "every single right that an opposition party or group gets" including Leaders' Questions and Private Members' Business.

Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan accused the government of attempting to "browbeat the opposition into agreement through endless meetings" without offering any real compromise.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Government leaders are "prepared to do anything" to satisfy their deal with Mr Lowry.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy said she is committed to exhausting every possible avenue when the committee meets again on Tuesday.

Asked if the opposition would seek to disrupt the Dáil when it resumes, Opposition leaders said they hope it will not come to that but would be forced to protest robustly.

A spokesperson for Government chief whip Mary Butler said: "We cannot have a repeat of the scenes in the chamber last week and no individuals should be able to hold the Dáil to ransom."

On Friday, a separate proposal was put forward by the Opposition which would see Mr Lowry's group form a technical group within the Government and would have the same rights as a party.

The deal would see the regional group treated as equivalent to a party in Government in terms of speaking time and committee positions. There was no agreement forthcoming on this proposal.

Earlier, Fianna Fáil took the step of seeking advice from senior counsel as the stalemate looks set to continue into next week.

The advice states that Mr Lowry's grouping can be recognised as a group under standing orderswhile actively supporting the Government as no members are a minister or minister of state.

The advice is in agreement with the views expressed by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy previously.