Boyd Barrett to take over Higgins role in Dáil

DÚN LAOGHAIRE TD Richard Boyd Barrett will be the United Left Alliance’s representative at Dáil leaders’ questions for the next year, replacing Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins.

The five members of the alliance agreed the change as a “formality”, Mr Boyd Barrett said.

The People Before Profit TD and Mr Higgins both rejected reports of a row between them over the high-profile role.

Mr Higgins said it was “absolutely untrue” there had been any argument over the position. “It was part of an agreement made a year ago.”

Mr Boyd Barrett said it was agreed within the five-member alliance when the technical group was formed last year that they would share the role at leaders’ question time over the lifetime of the Dáil. Dublin South Central People Before Profit TD Joan Collins was also in the running.

Two years are allocated for People Before Profit, two years for the Socialist Party and one for the Tipperary Workers and Unemployed Action Group, which is represented by South Tipperary TD Seamus Healy.

Asked what advice he would give Mr Boyd Barrett for the role, Mr Higgins said he would never be so brash as to give advice to other politicians about their work.

“People rely on their own experience,” he said.