Government Chief Whip, Minister Paul Kehoe TD, has today introduced a package of Dáil Reforms designed to make the Dáil Chamber more efficient and effective. This is the first phase in a programme of Dáil Reform to be introduced over the lifetime of this Government.
Speaking during the debate on the Dail Reform today Minister Kehoe stated:
"Dáil Reform is the shared responsibility of every member of this House. In the just over four months since the change of Government the Deputy Government Whip, Emmet Stagg TD, and I have worked closely with the three Opposition Whips to progress the Dáil Reform agenda.
"When TDs return to the Dáil on the 14th September, after a reduced summer recess, they will return to a different Dáil, with new rules and improved procedures. They will return to a Dáil where TDs can play a more active and meaningful role in the legislative process and where the members of this House will have more opportunity to raise issues with Ministers in a more effective manner. They will return to a Dáil better equipped to hold the executive to account."
Deputy Labour Whip John Lyons TD speaking in the Debate on behalf of the Labour Party stated:
"There is a long history of work done on Dáil Reform with no firm outcome. This time it is different. This time we have real positive proposals for change in how we do business in this house."Outline of Reforms
This first phase of the Dáil Reform Programme, to take effect from September, will involve:
The introduction of Topical Issue Debates to replace the current Adjournment Debates
Extra Dáil sitting days - on the first Friday of every month - to provide time for TDs to introduce their own Bills
Providing for Leaders Questions to be taken by the Tánaiste on Thursdays
A procedure to allow Dáil Deputies raise issues regarding replies to Parliamentary Questions
The Dáil commencing earlier on Tuesdays at 2pm
Reform of the Standing Order 32 procedures for raising urgent issues
Establishing a time limit for the Order of Business
Changes to Taoiseach’s PQs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Topical Issue Debates
The current Adjournment Debates will be replaced by a new system to be titled Topical Issue Debate and taken earlier in the day.
Each item selected for the Topical Issue Debate will be given an allocation of 12 minutes.
Time will be allocated for 12 Topical Issue Debates during the full sitting week.
o Tuesday - 4 Topical Issue Debates at 5:06pm
o Wednesday - 4 Topical Issue Debates at 3.45pm
o Thursdays - 4 Topical Issue Debates at 3.42pm.
The format of the debate will allow
o the proposer introduce the debate for 4 minutes
o the Minister/Minister of State will have 4 minutes to reply
o the proposer will have 2 minutes for a supplementary
o the Minister/Minister of State will have 2 minutes for a concluding statement.
It is a Government commitment that the Minister or Minister of State for the relevant Department will, except in exceptional circumstances, be the one to respond to the Debate on behalf of the Government.
Friday Sittings for TDs to introduce their own legislationLeaders Questions to be taken by the Tánaiste on ThursdaysStandard of Information provided in response to Parliamentary QuestionsEarlier Sitting time on TuesdayReform of Standing Order 32 proceduresStreamlining of the Order of BusinessChanges to Taoiseach’s PQs on Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Taoiseach’s PQ on Tuesdays will be extended from 45 minutes to one hour and will no longer be held on Wednesdays
Time limits for the daily Order of Business will be introduced.
The procedures under which a Deputy can raise an issue of importance requiring urgent consideration under Standing Order 32 will no longer be read out in the Dáil Chamber unless the request is granted by the Ceann Comhairle.
The Dáil sitting on Tuesdays will commence at 2pm instead of 2:30 pm.
The first item on the agenda on Tuesday will be an extended Minister’s Questions (one hour and 15 minutes)
Procedures will be introduced for TDs who have an issue with the details of a reply they have received to a Parliamentary Question to refer the matter to the Ceann Comhairle to decide if reasonable information has been provided.
The Ceann Comhairle can refer the matter back to the Minister with a request for further information. In the event that the information provided is still insufficient the matter can be scheduled as a Topical Issue Debate.
21 minutes will be allocated on Thursday at 10.30 am before the Order of Business for a Leader’s Questions format to be taken, except in exceptional circumstances, by the Tánaiste on Thursdays.
The Dáil will sit on the first Friday of every month.
This Dáil Sitting will be designed to provide time to consider second stage of Bills introduced by Private Members.
All TD who are not holders of Ministerial Office who have published a Bill can submit it to be debated in the Dáil Chamber on one of these Friday sittings.
Bills submitted will be selected by a lottery system a minimum of two weeks before the sitting day on which the Bill is to be debated
No vote will be held during these Friday sittings. Votes will be held on the next Dáil sitting day after the Order of Business.