asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the role the Government envisage for smaller parties in a reformed Dáil.
5.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dáil Reform.
4.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy, in view of his comments in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 353 of 7 July 1983 to the effect that he would be glad to receive suggestions from Deputies in relation to Dáil reform, the reason he has not agreed to a request to meet Workers' Party Deputies to discuss their exclusion from the Joint Oireachtas Committees; the role the Government envisage for smaller parties in a reformed Dáil, specifically the reason he has failed to reply to letters on the subject dated 19 July and 18 August 1983; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
6.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he has satisfied himself that the composition of the Joint Oireachtas Committees is in keeping with the spirit of the commitment to Dáil reform as outlined in the Fine Gael/ Labour Programme for Government.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 5 and 6 together.
Party representations on each Oireachtas committee is directly proportional to total party numbers in the Dáil and Seanad. I do not have any function in the matter of membership of Oireachtas Committees as, under Standing Orders, this is specifically a matter for the Committee of Selection. In relation to the recently established Oireachtas Committees, the Deputy will be aware that the Committee of Selection reported to the Dáil on 8 July 1983 setting out the relevant membership. Accordingly, representation for the Deputy's party on any committee could only be on the basis of another party ceding a seat. On the basis of elected representatives in the House, the Deputy's party does not have a right to representation on any committee.
While the Deputy might point to the fact that his party had been represented on Oireachtas committees in previous Dáils, this representation was in the form of concession rather than of right.
In so far as Dáil reform is concerned, neither the Government nor I have ever indicated that the position of small parties in Dáil Éireann was in need of review. However, I am prepared to meet the Deputy to discuss the matter.
I understood that Minister Bruton had responsibility for Dáil reform and I should like to know if his junior Minister has any responsibility in that field.
I am speaking on behalf of the Minister. When I say "I", I mean the Minister.
Is the Minister of State aware that I wrote to the Minister, Deputy Bruton, on 18 July last asking for a meeting to discuss this matter but I received no reply? I wrote again on 18 August and received an acknowledgment but still no reply. Further, is he aware that I wrote to the Taoiseach on 29 September, that I received an acknowledgment but no reply? There are 14 committees and to my knowledge all backbench Deputies are members of some committee, some Deputies are members of three and four committees and others are members of two or one committee.
As I stated in my reply, the Minister is prepared to meet the Deputy to discuss the matter.
I wish to know why a Deputy of the House has been treated in this arrogant and disgusting fashion? I wrote to the Minister on two occasions but did not receive any reply. I wrote to the Taoiseach and got an acknowledgment but nothing further. Can the Minister of State explain why since 19 July I have had no communication from him until I put the question in the House.
That is a fair question.
I am sure the Deputy will be aware that the Minister is a very busy man and was considering major questions of Dáil reform during the summer and the autumn. He is now acceding to the request of Deputy Mac Giolla to meet him and that meeting can be arranged at an early date.
The Minister of State said he was not aware there was need for reform in relation to small parties. However, he asked for submissions from all Deputies and indicated the Government were anxious to ensure the full participation of all Deputies. Does he not agree, therefore, that the exclusion of the two Deputies of The Workers' Party and the Independent Deputies from the Dáil committees is a direct contradiction of his claimed interest in Dáil reform?
I indicated in my reply that neither the Government nor the Minister, Deputy Bruton, have ever indicated that the position of small parties in the Dáil was in need of review.