‘Topical issues’just hot air and bluster

THE new chirpy-named “topical issues” time on the revamped Dáil schedule was designed to address some of its biggest faults: its lack of relevance on day to day issues and inability to respond to emerging crises or unexpected events.

But it was already being dubbed “tropical issues” after the mass of hot air it brought over the chamber on its first sitting after the summer break.

The new slot started off with the Ceann Comhairle explaining that, like the rest of us, he wasn’t fully sure what “topical issues” was all about.

Sean Barrett explained that 18 TDs had applied yesterday to raise issues in the 45-minute evening slot. Like a teacher with just a few treats to hand out, he could only pick four.

Under the new standing orders — or rule book of the Dáil — he will allow 12 topical issues a week.

The Ceann Comhairle said he was worried the new forum would make some TDs “very annoyed” when their issues were not allowed to be raised.

And he was right. Before he could finish explaining that he would be calling a meeting of the Committee of Procedure and Privileges next week to decide on a process, the first big row of the new term broke out.

An outraged Independent TD for Waterford John Halligan wanted to know why he was only getting one minute and 10 seconds to raise the topical issue of the 575 jobs that will be lost in his constituency.

As he shouted that this was an “insult” and that the Dáil reform was just a sham he was asked a number of times to leave the House.

But he refused. His obedient constituency rivals on the Government benches looked on helplessly as he challenged them to “stand up and speak” for the people of Waterford.

And before anything topical could get a mention, a vote was called on the pressing issue of whether the misbehaving deputy should be asked to leave.

Reinvigorated with its new sense of relevance, the Dáil voted by 91 to 42 that Deputy Halligan should indeed be ordered out.

He stuck to his guns, sat with his arms folded and the House was suspended until Mr Halligan eventually had to leave to go on local radio to express outrage over his treatment. Thirty of the 45 allotted minutes had passed when the Dáil resumed.

A number of topical issues were discussed, including a debate in Irish on the closure of community development group Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta — for which the relevant minister wasn’t present.

In the end, nothing was really achieved apart from a delay of the whole day’s procedures by half an hour.

Topical issues is unlikely to bring more relevance to Dáil proceedings. Just more hot air and bluster.