Dáil plan ‘minor change’ dressed up as ‘reform’
Fianna Fáil, angry at what it claimed was lack of consultation on the package, said ministers would still have absolute control over the Dáil’s agenda and there would be no way of “forcing ministers to answer even basic questions about their behaviour.”
Fianna Fáil director of elections Niall Collins said when the Irish people voted for real change “they weren’t thinking about tinkering with the Dáil agenda.”
“The only real test for whether there is actual reform is whether ministers have given up any power or control over the Dáil agenda — the answer from today’s Seanad campaign event is a resounding no,” he said.
The package, unveiled at Government Buildings by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, included increased Dáil sitting times, listening to the views of the likes of “newspaper letter writers” when drafting legislation and an annual state-of-the-nation style address from the Taoiseach followed by a debate in the Dáil.
The reform package is a central part of the campaign to abolish the Seanad, although most of these changes are due to come into effect by the first week of October regardless of how the public votes in the referendum.
The package includes:
- The Dáil will start at 12.30pm on Tuesday and an hour earlier at 9.30am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, increasing standard working hours for TDs from 23 to 28 hours per week. It will also sit every second Friday for four hours.
- Debating time for legislation increased from 11 to 13 hours per week.
- Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste delivering an annual state-of-the-nation style address in April when the Government will outline its priorities for the year ahead
- The address will happen on publication of three reports — Stability Programme and National Reform Programme which will provide economic updates for the next three years, National Risk Assessment which will examine risks the country faces in the year ahead and a National Progress Report produced independently by the Central Statistics Office.
- Giving the public a voice in the law-making process. Allowing advocacy groups, experts and even “letter writers to newspapers” voice their opinions at the earliest stage of the drafting of legislation. Ministers who ignore this phase will have to explain their actions to the Cabinet and Dáil.
- Ministers will have to report back to the Dáil after 12 months to explain how legislation is working.
- A promise to reduce the use of the guillotine when the Government uses its majority to shorten debate.
Speaking at yesterday’s launch Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that while the changes were not perfect even if “the Dáil was sitting seven days a week, 15 hours a day, you’re still not going to satisfy everyone.”
He said this latest phase of reform would deliver “real improvements to the way that the Dáil examines legislation, the scrutiny of budgets and the spending of public monies.”
“It will also bring civilsociety, interest groups and experts into the legislative process at an early stage.”
Since the Government came to power two and a half years ago, the Dáil has sat an extra 74 days compared to the previous FF/Green coalition, 303 days compared to 229.
Mr Gilmore said the Government was essentially trying to “make a shift in terms of modernisation of our democracy….to make it fit for purpose.”
The Government outlined a separate set of reforms to take effect, especially in the committee system, in the next Dáil — provided its campaign to abolish the Seanad was successful.
- The committee system will be overhauled with 14 Dáil committees, including four strategic, seven sectoral and three thematic committees.
- The committee chairpersons will be appointed using the d’Hondt system to ensure proportionate distribution between Government and opposition.
- A pre-enactment stage will be introduced between report stage and final stage of legislation. This would be undertaken by the committee which had considered the bill at pre-legislative and committee stages, and will allow it to make recommendations to the Dáil before approval.
Sinn Féin’s whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh said he took issue with the decision to introduce some of the proposals in the next term without consultation
“By committing to introduce some of its proposals in the next Dáil term the Government has broken its pledge to consult with opposition parties.
“These proposals should have gone to the Oireachtas Dáil Reform Committee where they could be discussed with other parties alongside Sinn Féin’s proposals and the proposals of any of the other parties or independents.”
