Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The current configuration in the Dáil has a large number of Independents. We have a Technical Group which has been a feature of, I think, the four most recent Dáileanna. Within that period for a number of years there was no ability to establish a Technical Group because the numbers were below seven. Indeed it was my election to the Dáil in a by-election that allowed a Technical Group to be formed in 2010. What is Professor Farrell's view on the fact that elected Members of the Dáil would have no speaking rights on major issues, such as Leaders' Questions, Private Members' business, Second Stage debates and Committee Stage debates in the Dáil Chamber as a result of not having six colleagues with whom to form a Technical Group?