The Green Party and Sinn Féin have called for reform of the Dáil's standing orders to give them full opposition party status.
As their deputies gathered for the first time in Leinster House yesterday, both parties indicated that they would co-operate in seeking the required changes.
The Green Party's chief whip, Mr John Gormley, warned that the new Dáil could disintegrate into a shambles, with considerable disruption, unless the rules were changed.
"It is absolutely vital that the electoral mandate of the smaller parties is recognised if we are to have true democracy," he added.
Under the existing standing orders, parties with seven or more deputies have full access to private members' time, the tabling of priority questions and a greater flexibility on the Order of Business.
This means that, under the existing rules, the Green Party with six deputies, and Sinn Féin with five, would each have to secure the support of a number of Independents to form a majority of non-aligned deputies to secure the sharing out among them of similar privileges.
Mr Gormley said that his party did not want to go cap in hand any more to Fine Gael and Labour seeking Dáil time. He added that he would be seeking discussions with the outgoing Government Chief Whip, Mr Séamus Brennan, on the issue.
He suggested the standing orders be changed to allow the Green Party and, possibly, an Independent, make up the seven deputies required to have full opposition party rights under parliamentary procedures.
The party's deputies were allocated portfolios at yesterday's meeting.
The Green Party's call for reform of standing orders was warmly welcomed by Sinn Fein's Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Cavan-Monaghan, who said that the alternative was for the two parties and the Independents to form a technical group.
"Standing orders must be changed if the mandate of the electorate is to be respected in the new Dáil. Current standing orders severely restrict the smaller parties in their ability to fully represent their voters in terms of speaking time, private members' business, introducing legislation and questioning ministers.
"This is totally undemocratic and must not be allowed to continue." He added there was also a need for co-operation "among the broad left in the new Dáil, including Labour, the Green Party, Sinn Féin and like-minded progressive independent deputies. In wide policy areas we have much in common."
Mr Ó Caoláin said that advancing the peace process, and the cause of Irish unity and sovereignty, would be a priority for the party in the new Dáil.
"We look forward to working with others to create a new political dynamic on this island," he added.
The Green Party has yet to finalise its plans to contest the Seanad elections, while Sinn Féin's ardchomhairle will discuss the matter tomorrow.
