Fine Gael and the Labour party have reiterated their call for the Dáil to be resumed in order to consider the implications of the Supreme Court ruling in the Jamie Sinnott case.
Last week the Supreme Court overruled a High Court decision obliging the State to provide education for Mr Sinnott, a 23-year-old autistic man from Cork, for as long as he could benefit from it.
The State successfully argued the High Court ruling in favour of Mr Sinnott had breached the principle of the separation of powers between the judiciary and the Oireachtas by telling the Government what education service to provide.
A joint statement from both parties today said the Supreme Court judgement had "created a wave of public concern" and said it was necessary for the Dáil to address.
Fine Gael spokesperson on equality, opportunity and family affairs, Ms Frances Fitzgerald and Labour spokesperson on equality and law reform, Ms Jan O’Sullivan called for Independent Deputies and Government backbenchers to support their call for the Dáil to reconvene. An initial request was rejected by the Government earlier this month.
Although the Taoiseach alone has the power to request the Ceann Comhairle to reconvene the Dáil, which is due to resume from its summer recess on October 2nd, Fine Gael and Labour have argued the Taoiseach "would find it very difficult to refuse a meeting of the Dáil should a majority of members request it".