Dáil finally appoints committees after delay due to speaking rights row

As the largest opposition party, Sinn Féin will chair the powerful Oireachtas committee on public accounts (PAC) as well as six other important committees 

The Oireachtas media committee grilling RTÉ executives in 2023 during the fallout over the handling of hidden payments to RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy. The Dáil vote necessary to appoint the new members to that and other powerful committees was delayed until today due to the row over speaking rights. File picture: Oireachtas TV

The Dáil has finally voted to formally establish Oireachtas committees.

The chamber voted to reject a Sinn Féin amendment to a report on the terms of reference of committees, meaning that the 28 panels can be fully formed, with preliminary meetings set to take place on Thursday.