The Government's move to allocate Dáil speaking time to the Regional Independent TDs who support it, along with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael backbenchers, has been voted through by the Dáil Reform Committee on a margin of 10 votes to 8.
The proposal will be put to a full Dáil vote next week where the Government majority will ensure it is passed.
The proposal has been strongly criticised by the Opposition who will now assess their next move to oppose it.
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has said that all options are on the table in terms of a response to tonight's move.
Ms McDonald said they would take stock overnight and meet again tomorrow, but warned the Government that actions would be tangible.
She said it is clear "the Government does not want to be held to account, they've gone to no end of trouble to accommodate Michael Lowry and his group of independents to pretend you can be in Government and Opposition at the same time".
"They have gone further than that now, they also want their own TDs, Fianna Fáíl and Fine Gael, to act as they were also Opposition TDs, as though they were also in a position to hold the Government to account."
Social Democrats Deputy Leader Cian O'Callaghan said what happened tonight was outrageous and highlights again the arrogance of the Government.
Labour Leader Ivana Bacik described the night's events as farcical, and said there is deep concern within the Opposition over what has unfolded.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy described tonight's outcome as an authoritarian move by the Government to diminish the opportunities for the Opposition to hold it to account. Opposition party leaders met following the vote.
Independent Ireland Leader Michael Collins said democracy is at stake following tonight's vote. pic.twitter.com/0hbpjCmy6N
— Mícheál Lehane (@MichealLehane) February 26, 2025
Earlier, Sinn Féin's Chief Whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn accused the coalition of a "power grab" and predicted that "all hell would break loose" if the proposal was passed.
The Ceann Comhairle had written to Opposition party leaders saying that it is clear there would not be consensus on the speaking rights row in the Dáil.
Verona Murphy also said that the amendment of standing orders - which govern the work of the lower house of parliament - was a matter for the Dáil and not her office.
Ms Murphy added that she could not prevent the vote on such a matter from taking place.
Her intervention came ahead of the key meeting of the Dáil Reform Committee in an attempt to resolve the row.
The Opposition previously warned that they would oppose such a move, and could withdraw cooperation on establishing Oireachtas committees if it was voted through.
This evening, opposition party leaders wrote to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste seeking an urgent meeting to resolve the row.
They said it was not acceptable that Government is moving away from its pledge last month not to change the Dáil's standing orders without the agreement of the Opposition.
The leaders had also written to the Ceann Comhairle to express their strong view that she has a key role in ensuring that the democratic procedures of the Oireachtas are fulfilled.
The row derailed the nomination of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach last month, and has the potential to disrupt the future work of the Oireachtas.
Read more:
Palpable edge to six-week row over Dáil speaking time
The Government believes it is imperative that the Dáil can function and the Oireachtas committees can be established as soon as possible.
It asserts that its proposals to change speaking rights do not see a single second of speaking time taken away from the groupings in Opposition.
It pointed out that, in the next six weeks, there will be 90 Priority Questions to various ministers. Sinn Féin will have 47, Labour 12, Social Democrats 11 etc.
The Coalition argued that if standing orders were not amended, then none of the 53 backbenchers would have an opportunity to ask a Priority Question.
It says the solution is one additional priority question in each session - six minutes of additional time - so that backbenchers and groups not currently recognised are included.
The Coalition also argues that its proposal will allow backbenchers, and others, to have access to additional speaking rights at Private Members' time.
Under the current rules, Private Members' Business is taken twice a week in the Dáil in which Government ministers are allocated 20 minutes and Opposition members 100 minutes.
Additional reporting Mícheál Lehane, Paul Cunningham
