76 first-time deputies learn the ropes in ‘TD school’
One of the 76 first-time members to the Dáil was unsure of stepping past its front gates yesterday and instead asked a garda on patrol out front for help.
The garda took her inside to the ushers, who appointed her a guide to show her around what will not only be her place of work for the next five years but a place where she will get a chance to shape the country’s future.
It was like the first day back in school or college with the arrival of a new set of faces, apprehensive, excited and unsure of what to do, some accompanied by their mothers and fathers dressed up in their finest.
In contrast, former TDs who lost their seats at the weekend wandered the corridors, shaking hands, saying goodbye and clearing their desks and offices to make way for the newcomers.
This time, there are more new faces than normal as well over half of the seats in the 31st Dáil will be occupied by first time deputies. At least 24 of these will be in opposition and 11 are new Independents without party colleagues to take them under their wings.
On the Government benches there are 36 newly-elected Fine Gael TDs, eight of whom were senators so they already know the ropes, and 19 new deputies on the Labour benches.
This morning they will attend “TD school” or a seminar to familiarise themselves with how the Oireachtas works, parliamentary procedures and how to submit parliamentary questions.
They will also have a “meet and greet” session to get to know each other before heading for a meal in the Dáil restaurant.
They have been given information packs, a document outlining their salaries and allowances and ascribed a mentor to help them find their feet.
The Oireachtas will not decide the complicated seating arrangements in the new Dáil until after the vote on the Taoiseach next Wednesday.
If Labour and Fine Gael reach agreement on a coalition, as expected, the Government will have the biggest ever Dáil majority with 113 out of 166 seats. This means the government seats will stretch around to where Labour sat in the last Dáil, meaning many of them will keep the same seats.
This number of seats could be as damaging to stability as it is helpful. There will be a huge number of backbenchers who will feel their talents are not appreciated because they will not get jobs as minister, junior ministers or as committee chairmen.
With two and three Fine Gael TDs in many constituencies, competition within government ranks will be more intense than ever.
A huge majority of this size also means a robust opposition is needed more than ever to hold the government to account.
Fianna Fáil will be the largest party in opposition with 20 seats, just one above independents and six more than Sinn Féin.
But without representation in over half of the 43 constituencies, without a single woman TD, with just one representative in Dublin and given its own track record, FF is very poorly equipped to lead the opposition.
It will be struggling to have its voice heard over Sinn Féin’s particularly during Leaders’ Questions. Depending on how they arrange themselves, the group of 19 Independent and United Left Alliance TDs have the potential to be either the weakest or strongest attack dogs from the 53-strong opposition benches.
Their disparate views and strong personalities could see them trying to outdo each other and put their own need for publicity ahead of their responsibilities as opposition TDs.
But if they organise effectively, they could prove a robust defender of the public interest and a watchdog of the Government.
It all makes for what is certain to be a lively and colourful 31st Dáil.
