Deal sees FG double number of commitee chairmanships

FINE GAEL will double the number of chairmanships it holds on Dáil committees under a deal brokered with the Government.

The Irish Examiner has learn the main opposition party is to get four of the 21 new committee chairs as opposed to the two it held in the last Dáil.

In addition, FG will be allotted six deputy chairperson roles in other committees.

FG received written confirmation from the Government last night about the arrangement.

The agreement was reached late last week after protracted negotiations between Government chief whip Tom Kitt and FG’s interim whip Dan Neville.

Last month, when Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced he would be again increasing the number of committees from 18 to 21, FG complained that it was badly under-represented in committees, unlike most other European democracies where opposition parties are afforded a bigger share of parliamentary committee chairs.

FG suggested that chairs should be allotted on the basis of the d’Hondt system, a proportional method that was used to allocate ministerial posts in the North of Ireland.

In the event, it was given four chairs, short of the five it required.

In addition to the two committees it already chairs — the public accounts committee and European affairs — FG TDs will also chair the potentially important committee on energy, security and climate change as well as another new committee involving scrutiny of EU legislation.

By contrast, the Labour Party will remain with its sole committee chair, after being told by Mr Kitt that no extra positions were on offer. Labour has also complained that the fact that there are now 21 committees means that practically every one of FF’s almost 80 TDs will have a salaried position in addition to their €100,000 annual pay.

Unlike FG, Labour does not have a formal pairing arrangement with FF.

Consequently it does not have the same potential to frustrate the Government, and obstruct procedure in parliament.

Chief whip Mr Kitt told the Irish Examiner last night that the agreement had been reached and that he would be tabling a motion to form the committees in the Dáil next Tuesday.