Dáil reconvenes after summer recess

The Dáil has reconvened after its summer break, with the Budget and next month's referendums set to be the main battlegrounds.

Both Government parties are campaigning for Yes votes in the referendums on the abolition of the Seanad and the establishment of a Court of Appeal.

Initial skirmishes between Government and the Opposition marked the end of the party meetings yesterday.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny accused Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin of naked opportunism over his stance on the Seanad, while Mr Martin criticised the Taoiseach for resisting a television debate.

The economy and the Budget will be the two main areas of debate and Fianna Fáil will push a motion urging support for those in mortgage difficulties.

Relations between Fine Gael and Labour are sure to be strained next month in the days ahead of Ministers Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin announcing the Budget on 15 October.

Mr Noonan has said no specific Budget proposals have been decided yet, but that there would be a mixture of spending cuts and tax increases.

Speaking on his way into a Cabinet meeting, he said the four members of the Economic Management Council had a general chat yesterday, and had worked out an approach for the Budget.

The council is made up of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Minister Noonan and Minister Howlin.

He said the Budget would comprise spending cuts and tax increases in a ratio of 2:1, as it had been for the last two years.

It was unrealistic to suggest all of the savings could be made just through tax increases, and equally unrealistic to suggest spending cuts alone, he said.

In relation to the total Budget target of €2.5bn or €3.1bn, he said it was impossible to come up with a figure at this stage.

Mr Howlin said all views would be taken into account when forming the Budget.

Speaking time for non-aligned TDs

Meanwhile, all 14 non-aligned TDs have been granted speaking rights in the Dáil.

In an email from the office of Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, the TDs were told that slots for "others" would be incorporated in the rotation of Dáil speakers.

Former minister of state Róisín Shortall, who resigned from the Labour parliamentary party last year, said they were all notified last night.

She said the next step for non-aligned TDs is to table a motion calling on the Government to allow them sit on committees.

Wicklow TD Billy Timmins, who is a member of the Reform Alliance recently formed by former Fine Gael TDs and Senators, welcomed the decision.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Timmins said the alliance wanted to make a positive contribution and the action by the Ceann Comhairle clearly demonstrated the independence of his office.

He thanked Mr Barrett for his decision and said it was a demonstration of the clear roll his office could play in reform of the parliamentary system.

Mr Timmins said members of the alliance were still looking to get their places back on Dáil committees, which they lost at the time of their expulsion from Fine Gael.

However, Sinn Féin whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh has said he was disappointed with the Ceann Comhairle's decision.

Mr Ó Snodaigh said the decision was made without consulting the party whips, the Dáil Reform Committee or the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and was "not the way to do business".

Protests outside Leinster House

There is a heavy garda presence surrounding Leinster House and Government Buildings as the new Dáil term begins.

There have been some scuffles between gardaí and protesters.

Around 150 people are taking part in a protest, describing themselves as various individuals against austerity.

Scuffles broke out earlier as protesters tried to gain access to Kildare Street through a side street, attempting to push past a human chain of gardaí.

Gardaí had been keeping the protesters behind barriers on Molesworth Street before then.

Protesters chanted "shame on you" as they eventually moved away from the gardaí, back behind the barricades.

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