Six TDs remained seated during the Dáil prayer this afternoon.

It follows a decision last week to change the rules of the Dáil to add 30 seconds of silent reflection to the daily prayer.

Under the new standing orders TDs are asked to stand for the prayer and a subsequent 30 second silent reflection each day.

Among those who remained seated today were members of Solidarity/People Before Profit including Richard Boyd Barrett, Bríd Smith, and Gino Kenny.

Six TDs remain seated during Dáil prayer https://t.co/5u2cfsnmo2 pic.twitter.com/LUsag1K7Dv — RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 9, 2017

Ruth Coppinger and Mick Barry unfurled banners in the chamber which said "separate church and state".

There was no reaction from Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl.

Discussion needed to prioritise legislation - Kenny

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil all parties will need to hold a discussion about which legislation they want to prioritise in the coming months.

There are currently 140 bills backed up in the system.

Mr Kenny said "in my time here we had very few Private Members' Bills, less than a dozen in any year. Now there are 140 of them backed up".

He said some of the bills being put forward during Private Members' time have to be amended extensively before they can be put into law.

Others, he said, have a significant cost attached to them.

He said "in respect of the 140 bills there is a discussion to be had about what the parties want to prioritise out of the 140".

Kenny criticised over awareness walk

The founder of Pieta House has said she is surprised Mr Kenny had "the neck" to take part in the Darkness into Light walk in Canada last weekend, claiming that "he sanctioned cuts in the mental health budget".

Senator Joan Freeman made the comments during Order of Business in the Seanad.

Around 200,000 people walked across the country on Saturday morning in aid of the suicide prevention charity Pieta House.

There were separate events, organised by the Irish community, in a number of other countries.

Mr Kenny took part in the walk while on a visit to Toronto last weekend.

Ms Freeman said "it is a little bit ironic that he took part in Darkness into Light in Canada on Saturday morning" when he "sanctioned the cuts in the mental health budget".

Fine Gael's Seanad leader Jerry Buttimer said the claim was untrue, and that the mental health budget had actually increased.

Ireland may have European grid connection by 2025

Ireland could have an electricity connection with mainland Europe by 2025.

That is according to the Chief Executive of Eirgrid, who is before the Oireachtas Communications Committee.

In his opening statement, Fintan Slye said Ireland has been looking at developing a link to France since 2009.

He said that for the past five years, Eirgrid has been working with the French National Transmission operator at the potential of a two-way supply to France regarding feasibility.

Mr Slye told the committee the connection would be enough to power 450,000 homes and would considerably enhance supply and diversify power sources.

He pointed out that it would be the only connection to an EU member state post-Brexit.