Behan will meet McGrath to discuss forming technical group in Dáil to obtain speaking time

NEWLY INDEPENDENT deputy Joe Behan is to consider joining a technical group in the Dáil that would allow speaking time to otherwise voiceless deputies.

Mr Behan is to meet Independent deputy Finian McGrath next week to discuss the matter.

Mr McGrath is also hoping to convince the four Sinn Féin deputies and Independent deputy Tony Gregory to join the group.

A technical group can only be formed if seven or more TDs get together.

Once the group is formed, its members have certain speaking rights under the Dáil's standing orders. They would be entitled to seven minutes of Leaders' Questions and would have proportionate speaking time on any motions.

They would also be entitled to bring forward Private Members' Bills.

Under present arrangements, non-aligned TDs have no speaking rights in the Dáil and rely on the generosity of other parties to express their views.

Sinn Féin currently has an arrangement with the Labour Party to use some of its speaking time under a deal made when Sinn Féin agreed to support Labour in the Seanad.

In the previous Dáil, a technical group which included the Green Party, Sinn Féin, Mr Gregory, Mr McGrath and Socialist Party deputy Joe Higgins worked together successfully, with Mr Higgins as leader.

Mr Behan, who resigned from Fianna Fáil last week in protest at Budget cuts, said he would be discussing the formation of the group with Mr McGrath next week and was keeping an open mind on the matter.

"A lot has happened in the last week and I probably have made the most difficult political decision of my life," he said.

He said he had been with Fianna Fáil for 23 years, but there would be other issues coming up that he would be unable to support the Government on, including education.

He said Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe seemed to have his face set against changing.

"I will have to consider all of the implications of joining the group. There are advantages, including getting speaking time, but I will have to think it over and discuss it," he said.

Mr McGrath said he had talked informally with all parties and there was a fair amount of interest in forming the group, though he held out little hope of attracting the Dáil's two other Independents, Jackie Healy-Rae and Michael Lowry.

"Forming a technical group would make a lot of sense," he said.

Mr Gregory said he would certainly be in favour of forming a technical group. "I'm at the mercy of other parties - I have to go begging for speaking time," he said.