Government support groupings
Deputy Murphy seeks clarification of the groupings supporting the Government and any associated agreements. A contentious exchange follows, with the Tánaiste identifying Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and regional Independents, while the Ceann Comhairle intervenes to end the interruptions.
The programme for Government refers to "all parties and groupings party to the Government". My question is simple. Which groupings are party to the Government and what agreements exist with them? Elsewhere, the programme for Government refers to support resources being made available to "others who support the Government". Who is being referred to there? Am I right in assuming that the groupings referred to are the Lowry group and the Healy-Rae group and that the others being referred to are those members of those groups who are not Ministers or Ministers of State in the Government? What agreements exist? Is there an agreement that those members who are not in the Government will vote with the Government throughout the course of the term or is it the case that they will vote on a case-by-case basis? Are there any other aspects to this agreement that the House should be aware of? Are there any other agreements in relation to Government support?
Comment on this
It must be highly insulting to Independent TDs who are democratically elected in their own right, just like Deputy Murphy, to be referred to by someone else's surname. I think the Deputy should really stop that sort of carry-on.
Comment on this
He was their chief negotiator.
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There is no need for a back and forth. The last time I checked, they were called the "Regional Independents". The Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, sits with us in Cabinet and the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, as well. I see Deputy Toole up there and I saw Deputy Heneghan earlier. I have also seen the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, the soon-to-be Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, and Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. Deputy Murphy could actually recognise them as individuals in their own right and might actually respect the mandates of their constituents.
Comment on this
It says "groupings", though, and that is what I am asking the Tánaiste about.
Comment on this
I thank the Ceann Comhairle. The next thing is this. The deals, if the Deputy wants to call them that, are called the "programme for Government". It is published on gov.ie. It will be implemented in full over the course of five years. There are no other deals and we look forward to advancing it.
Comment on this
Who are the groupings? It says "groupings". Who are they?
Comment on this
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the regional Independents, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, and Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.