Democratic Left is unwilling to enter any grouping of Dail deputies that includes Mr Michael Lowry or the Sinn Fein TD, Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain, a party spokesman has confirmed. Independent TDs and deputies from smaller parties are entitled to form what is known as a "technical group" - numbering eight deputies - which allows them access to certain rights in the House.
Mr O Caolain said yesterday that "a despicable campaign is going on behind the scenes that needs to be brought to public notice". He had entered Dail Eireann willing to co-operate "with all opinions", but the same respect for the electorate was not demonstrated by all sides.
A spokesman for Democratic Left said that all four members of the party in the Dail were available to form a technical group but "all the membership must be agreeable to everyone".
Democratic Left would not regard it as "acceptable" to be part of a technical group involving Mr Lowry because of "his conduct in the recent past" and "we do not regard it as appropriate to be in a group with Sinn Fein".
The Independent TD, Mr Tony Gregory, said he was "one hundred per cent in favour of a technical group that allows in any member of the Dail who is entitled to join".
Mr Gregory said he "could not take on a position of excluding anyone. There is no doubt it is in the interests of all small groups, including Democratic Left, that we be in one".
Saying he was "disappointed and frustrated" with the situation, Mr O Caolain added that others "are facilitating the exclusion" of his party, including "those who control the workings of the House, which goes back to the Chief Whip's Office".