Opposition downplays lack of pairing arrangements in Dáil

Pairing may not be needed during Ireland's presidency of the Council of the EU given the Government's 20-plus majority

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026 - 16:28

Paul Hosford

Opposition politicians have downplayed the idea of ministers being unable to attend EU meetings later this year due to a lack of pairing arrangements.

Pairing arrangements are typically arranged between a government and the opposition in the case of ministerial absences from the Dáil to allow government ministers miss votes if they are on government business.

However, much of the opposition withdrew those arrangements last year in the bitter row over Dáil speaking time.

Presidency of the Council of the EU

Ireland takes over the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time on July 1.

The Council of the EU is made up of ministers from EU nations, grouped by their policy area, which discusses legislation and helps set the EU’s agenda.

Ireland will hold the presidency of the group from July to December, which will include hosting an informal meeting of EU leaders and a summit meeting of the European political community during that period.

Alongside those meetings, ministers will host their own councils for meetings across Ireland. This has led to some in Government parties questioning whether those meetings would have to be led by senior civil servants if pairs cannot be found.

Donegal TD and Sinn Féin chief whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 'We would not be minded to reinstate pairing for the presidency, though we will work professionally with everyone.'

However, the whips of opposition parties have said the size of the Government’s majority — regularly around 20 on votes — means that the issue should not arise.

Sinn Féin’s chief whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said his party would keep pairing under review, but was not minded at present to reinstate the arrangements.

“We’ll keep it under review," he said.

We would not be minded to reinstate pairing for the presidency, though we will work professionally with everyone.

"The Government has a large majority and is under no pressure. Ministers are away all the time. When they’ve a full turnout, they’ve a majority of 20-plus. The Government chief whip hasn’t approached me for a pair in a long time.

“There are periods where there are ministers and TDs away, so I don’t see it as an issue at all. They’d need to explain how a 20-seat majority becomes a problem. The point we made at the time was that it couldn’t be business as usual. The power grab at that time was so brazen.”

Social Democrats discussed pairing with Government

Social Democrats whip Cian O’Callaghan said he and Government chief whip Mary Butler had discussed a return to pairing before Christmas, but that no further contact had been made.

The Social Democrats are “happy to talk about government business”, Mr O’Callaghan said, though any arrangement would require the Government to recognise the Social Democrats as the Dáil’s fourth-largest party.