Skip to main content
Normal View

Committees

About committees

Oireachtas committees advise the Houses of the Oireachtas on a range of specific areas. Committee members include TDs, Senators or both.

Committees receive submissions and presentations from members of the public, interest groups and Government Departments. Their public meetings are broadcast live and recorded and they may publish reports on specific issues.

Committees also scrutinise Government expenditure and debate proposed legislation.

Committees 33rd Dáil / 26th Seanad

How do Committees scrutinise Government spending?

Financial scrutiny

How do Committees scrutinise Government spending?

Scrutinising Government spending is one of the important functions of Dáil Éireann and its select Committees. Find out more about the process by which Committees scrutinise the Government's annual Estimates and other financial aspects of spending for public services.

Recent debates

Thu, 7 Nov 2024

Committee Of Public Accounts
Business of Committee

View

Wed, 6 Nov 2024

Joint Committee On Agriculture, Food And The Marine
Eradication of Bovine TB: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

View

Wed, 6 Nov 2024

Joint Committee On Enterprise, Trade And Employment
Messages to Dáil and Seanad

View

Wed, 6 Nov 2024

Joint Committee On Disability Matters
Future-proofing to Improve Life and Longevity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion

View

Press releases

4 Feb 2025, 07:00

Statement from the Ceann Comhairle re speaking rights

31 Jan 2025, 17:28

Statement from the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy TD, following today’s discussions regarding speaking rights

30 Jan 2025, 17:22

The Houses of the Oireachtas Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) publishes report on Hospital Construction Costs

30 Jan 2025, 14:28

Ceann Comhairle hosts St. Brigid's Day event

Recent reports

Fri, 7 Feb 2025

Fri, 7 Feb 2025

Revised report of the Business Committee for 11 - 13 February 2025
Arrangement for business and business schedule for Tuesday to Thursday, 11 - 13 February 2025

Fri, 7 Feb 2025

Fri, 7 Feb 2025

Report of the Business Committee for 11 - 13 February 2025
Arrangement for business and business schedule for Tuesday to Thursday, 11 - 13 February 2025

Wed, 5 Feb 2025

Wed, 5 Feb 2025

Report of the Business Committee for 5 - 6 February 2025
Arrangement for business and business schedule for Wednesday to Thursday, 5 - 6 February 2025

Tue, 21 Jan 2025

Tue, 21 Jan 2025

Report of the Business Committee for Wednesday 22 January 2025
Report of the Business Committee for Wednesday 22 January 2025

Scrutiny of EU legislation

Image: iStock.com/inakiantonana

Scrutiny of EU legislation

What happens when the EU proposes new legislation for member states? This infographic outlines how the Oireachtas reviews and responds to such proposals.

Parliamentary inquiries

A number of parliamentary inquiries have been conducted by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The reports of these parliamentary inquiries have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Archive

To find a report published by a committee of a previous Dáil, search the Oireachtas Library & Research Service catalogue. There, you will find all committee reports and other documents laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

If you are interested in what was said at a public meeting of a committee, visit the committee debates page and search by date.

For other information about committees of the 31st Dáil, which sat from March 2011 to February 2016, you could browse the archive of committees of the 31st Dáil.

Glossary

Do you know your standing committees from your joint committees from your select committees? Decode parliamentary jargon with our A to Z guide.

What are standing Committees?

Useful info

What are standing Committees?

Standing Committees are established by Standing Orders of the Oireachtas and fulfill functions that are required by every parliament, such as the scrutiny of public accounts.

What is the difference between select and joint Committees?

Useful info

What is the difference between select and joint Committees?

A select Committee includes Members from either the Dáil or the Seanad, but not both. A joint Committee has Members from both Dáil and Seanad.

Top
Share