Labour has said it will oppose planned changes to Dáil procedures which it claims will undermine the capacity of opposition leaders to question the Taoiseach on matters of public importance.
Government chief whip Tom Kitt is expected to present plans for procedural changes to a meeting of a Dáil sub-committee today.
Under the plans, first unveiled earlier this year, the Taoiseach would have prior notice of questions to be raised during Leaders' Questions. In addition, the Government chief whip rather than the Taoiseach would take the Order of Business in the Dáil.
Labour chief whip Emmet Stagg said last night Mr Kitt had advised him the proposals would be formally tabled at today's meeting of the Dáil reform sub-committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privilege.
His understanding was that the proposals made before the summer had been dropped in the face of opposition pressure because major changes to Dáil procedures are normally only made on the basis of consensus.
"These changes would have the effect of killing off Leaders' Questions as we know it. If we accept the principle that the Taoiseach may be able to refer questions from the party leaders to other Ministers, this will inevitably become the norm."
Mr Kitt could not be reached for comment last night.
