Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said the Government welcomes Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy's ruling in relation to speaking rights for members of the regional independent group.
Ms Carroll MacNeill said the Ceann Comhairle had gone through an important process, taking legal advice, reflecting on it and making a determination.
"She is the office holder, she has gone through her own process and that's her decision," she said.
It means that the group of six TDs cannot contribute to Leaders' Questions in the Dáil every week where opposition parties hold the Government to account.
Following the decision, Government Chief Whip Mary Butler will hold further discussions with opposition parties today ahead of the resumption of Dáil business tomorrow.
Speaking on a visit to Mayo University Hospital, Ms Carroll MacNeill said she felt that work now needed to be done "to make sure that everyone in the Dáil, who has the same mandate given to them by their communities" had an opportunity to speak in the chamber.
The minister said that included government backbenchers.
In that regard, she said there was "a piece of work to be done by the Dáil Reform Committee to ensure they get an opportunity to make [a] contribution".
Ms Carroll MacNeill said she knew from experience that it was sometimes difficult for Government backbenchers to get speaking time on issues that mattered to their constituents, "in a way that is not quite as difficult in the opposition".
She said it was important those backbenchers were able to speak, on behalf of their communities, on matters of importance to them.
Sinn Féin's Chief Party Whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said the ruling is "a moment in which common sense has finally prevailed".
Mr Mac Lochlainn said allowing the Regional Group to contribute to Leaders' Questions was "a political stroke too far".
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Mac Lochlainn said the six TDs "are clearly Government backbenchers".
"They should be given the same speaking rights as a Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael backbench TD and the same committee allocations," he said.
He added the TDs should be "given all their rights from the Government side as is normally the case".
Mr Mac Lochlainnn said the Ceann Comhairle's ruling should be respected and people should "move on".
"Hopefully the Government and Micheál Martin particularly finally see sense rowing behind this," he added.
Read more:
Opposition party talks after ruling over Dáil speaking rights
Ceann Comhairle's Dáil row move sends shockwaves through Govt
