No Law Preventing Northern MPs Sitting in Dáil Committees
Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has found out that no law prohibits MPs from the North of Ireland attending Dáil and Seanad Committees in Leinster House. He has pledged to push for reforms to the Standing Orders to allow Northern MPs to attend and participate in all Oireachtas Committees as soon as possible. He stated;
“Since entering the Dáil, Aontu have championed the cause of speaking rights and access of Northern MPs to Leinster House. Leinster House has long been a Cold House for the elected representatives of the communities in the North. It is farcical to talk of an integrated Ireland, and building towards a United Ireland yet deny Northern MPs access to where the Oireachtas sits. If we are to achieve a United and equal Ireland then a significant first step is treat Northern MPs no different than Southern TDs where the law allows it and then to repeal any legal barriers.”
“I call on the government and all parties committed to the vision of a United, and equal Ireland in the future to pass Aontú’s speaking rights bill that would give Northern MPs speaking rights in the Dáil, and secondly to amend regulations in the Oireachtas to allow Northern MPs to attend and participate in all Oireachtas Committees. The path to Irish unity is not solely an ideological one, what is needed to prepare for a United Ireland are practical measures that ensure we are a nation united and equal before a vote is even cast.”