There were chaotic scenes in the Dáil on Wednesday after the chamber was suspended twice by new Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy before any candidate for Taoiseach could be nominated.
It followed a series of interruptions and a lengthy dispute over speaking rights.
The chamber erupted into angry shouts, with repeated calls of "when will we get the legal advice?" from Deputy Paul Murphy.
Several Sinn Féin representatives had objected to Government parties receiving more speaking time in the order of business.
In particular, they noted that Sinn Féin had received more seats than Fine Gael in the election.
Sinn Féin chief whip Padraig Mac Lochlainn had called for the Dáil to be suspended for an urgent meeting of the Business Committee over the dispute.
As Mr. Mac Lochlainn’s party colleague Matt Carthy continued making objections, Ms. Murphy said she would suspend the Dáil for 15 minutes. She later suspended the chamber for another 30 minutes.
She made the decision after Mr. Carthy did not return to his seat and the suspension was not for Sinn Féin’s request of a meeting of the Business Committee.
Labour, the Social Democrats, and People Before Profit have also criticised the decision to allow members of the Independent Regional Group to be allocated opposition speaking time.
Labour’s Duncan Smith said the public is angry about the arrangement.
"They are really angry. And I would like you, Cean Comhairle, to commit a deadline as to when you will make an adjudication upon the joint opposition submission on this matter and make a decision that is in the goodness of the entire parliament and every member in this House.
"Us in opposition believe there is only one answer to that question," he said.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the arrangement was "ludicrous."
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said it was a "farcical start" to the new Dáil term.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will be allowed to speak following her anticipated nomination to be taoiseach in the Dáil.
It follows a dispute over speaking time for Wednesday’s proceedings, in which Sinn Féin claimed Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had sought to block Ms. McDonald from speaking.
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy noted precedent whereby Ms. McDonald spoke in 2020 following her nomination for the position of taoiseach on that occasion.
Ms. Murphy agreed that the same time will be allowed to the leader of Sinn Féin on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a majority of TDs are expected to back the nomination of Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to become taoiseach.
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.