Sinn Féin has advocated that Northern Ireland MLAs, MPs, and MEPs should have the right to participate in Dáil debates, if not vote.Dáil Reform Committee says no to northern Oireachtas representation, agendaNi, September 2022 In 2005 the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, proposed that Northern Ireland MPs should be able to address a committee of the whole Dáil. However, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, and Ahern's coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats, all opposed the idea,Ahern proposal on MPs ill-advised , Irish Times, 29 October 2005 as did the Green Party, the Socialist Party and some Oireachtas members from Fianna Fáil.Most deputies oppose Dail speaking rights for MPs , Sunday Independent, 7 August 2005 Only Sinn Féin, the party that stood to gain most from the proposal, supported it, while the more moderate Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) described it as a step forward.Ahern plan to give North MPs Dail rights rejected , Irish Times, 28 October 2005 The proposal was also criticised widely in the media, with an editorial in The Irish Times, declaring that: "The overwhelming democratic imperative is that the institutions of this State should represent and serve the people of the State." From 2011, Northern Ireland MEPs had the same automatic right as MEPs from the Republic to participate in meetings of the Seanad's European committee, whereas other MEPs require an invitation. This ended in 2020 when the United Kingdom left the EU, which consequently meant all UK MEPs left office.
Sinn Féin has advocated that Northern Ireland MLAs MPs and MEPs should have the right to participate in Dáil debates if not voteDáil Reform Committee says no to northern Oireachtas representation agendaNi September 2022 In 2005 the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern proposed that Northern Ireland MPs should be able to address a committee of the whole Dáil However Fine Gael the Labour Party and Ahern's coalition partners the Progressive Democrats all opposed the ideaAhern proposal on MPs ill-advised  Irish Times 29 October 2005 as did the Green Party the Socialist Party and some Oireachtas members from Fianna FáilMost deputies oppose Dail speaking rights for MPs  Sunday Independent 7 August 2005 Only Sinn Féin the party that stood to gain most from the proposal supported it while the more moderate Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) described it as a step forwardAhern plan to give North MPs Dail rights rejected  Irish Times 28 October 2005 The proposal was also criticised widely in the media with an editorial in The Irish Times declaring that "The overwhelming democratic imperative is that the institutions of this State should represent and serve the people of the State" From 2011 Northern Ireland MEPs had the same automatic right as MEPs from the Republic to participate in meetings of the Seanad's European committee whereas other MEPs require an invitation This ended in 2020 when the United Kingdom left the EU which consequently meant all UK MEPs left office