Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle will deliver a live television speech before this evening 6.01 news on RTE in response to the Taoiseach’s Address to the Nation.
The south-west TD’s name was pulled from a hat form the 16 members of the Dail technical group.
Three speeches will be made by representatives from Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Dail’s Technical Group – in an effort to ‘balance’ the Broadcasting Act.
Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin will have a four-minute slot following 9 pm news – and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams will speak for three minutes after the 6.01 pm broadcast.