Plan to slash number of Dáil committees

THE number of Oireachtas committees should be slashed according to proposals currently with the Department of Finance.

The body responsible for running the Dáil and Seanad, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, proposes reducing the number from 21 to 15.

This would lead to a corresponding reduction in the 63 positions attached the committees, which pay e30,000-a-year.

On Wednesday night the commission met in a special session to consider the Finance Minister Brian Lenihan’s request to cut its e137m budget.

Mr Lenihan had rejected reform measures which would have cut administration but kept the level of expenditure intact. In response, the commission tabled revised suggestions to save e4m by cutting TDs and senators’ expenses 10%, reducing mileage as well as cutting the number of committees.

There are currently 19 joint Oireachtas committees, an administration committee and Public Accounts Committee, as well as sub-committees.

The Commission cannot recommend which committees should stay. The Public Accounts Committee is required by law.

Commission member Senator Paul Bradford said in his view committees did not have to adhere strictly to the partitions between the ministerial portfolios.

Areas of responsibility could be merged once they could still operate along focused lines of inquiry.

“Nobody wants to be cut back but we have to be realistic about the current economic situation. There is a recognition this is a grave state that requires a response from all sectors.”

The commission has already shipped criticism from some TDs and senators angry at plans to cut expenses and change how they are paid.

Committees proved to be a lucrative reward for backbench TDs in recent times when periods of stable Government restricted the number of promotions to cabinet posts.

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for Mr Lenihan said he would not comment until after he reviewed the commission’s submission.