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Houses of the Oireachtas Commission

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The primary function of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission is to provide for the running of the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is the governing body which oversees the delivery of services to the Houses of the Oireachtas, their Members and members of the public by the Houses of the Oireachtas Service.

The Commission was established in 2004 as a body corporate. It is independent in the performance of its functions, and has no role in relation to parliamentary business or procedure.

The Commission has specific responsibility for:

  • Appointing the Clerk of the Dáil and Secretary General of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service
  • Overseeing the expenditure of the Houses, paying all salaries and expenses for members and staff, and keeping and publishing annual accounts
  • Employing civil servants to staff the Service and exercising functions in relation to staff appointments, performance and discipline, through the Secretary General
  • Producing three-yearly strategic plans, annual reports, annual estimates and other information
  • Deciding on secretarial facilities to be provided to Members and parliamentary parties
  • Exercising certain legal functions, including participation in proceedings where necessary, and arranging for legal advice
  • Preparing guidelines for Members on the use of publicly funded services and facilities following a dissolution of Dáil Éireann
  • Providing translation services from one official language into the other in respect of Acts of the Oireachtas.

ANNUAL REPORT

Annual Report 2022

The Annual Report provides information on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission’s stewardship of public resources. It highlights the work of Oireachtas Members and the Houses of the Oireachtas Service.

Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2022-2024

The Strategic Plan outlines how the Houses of the Oireachtas Service will provide advice and support services to Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann and their Committees and to the Members of both Houses over the next three years.

Action Plan

Action Plan 2023

This Action Plan 2023 for the Houses of the Oireachtas Service is the second of three annual action plans designed to deliver on the vision set out in our Strategic Plan 2022-2024.

Membership

The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission has 11 members. They are appointed in accordance with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Acts.

Meeting documents

Fri, 3 Nov 2023

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission minutes, 10 July 2023

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission minutes, 10 July 2023 ()

Fri, 3 Nov 2023

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission minutes, 19 June 2023

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission minutes, 19 June 2023 ()

Fri, 3 Nov 2023

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission minutes, 8 May 2023

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission minutes, 8 May 2023 ()

Relevant SIs

View the statutory instruments relevant to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission.

Publications

The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission publishes various documents including its annual report, strategic plan and the agenda and minutes of its meetings.

Audit committee

The audit committee reviews the work of the internal audit unit of the Oireachtas Commission. Full details about the audit committee’s membership and terms of reference are available as well as the minutes of its meetings.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act

The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission came into existence in 2004 under the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003. The Act provides for the authority and responsibility for provision of services to the Houses of the Oireachtas and their committees to be transferred from the Minister for Finance to the Commission. You can read the original Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act and the subsequent amending Acts, or refer to this unofficial consolidated version of the Acts.

Contact details

Office of the Commission and Secretary General
Leinster House
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
commission@oireachtas.ie

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