asked the Taoiseach when the informal committee representative of the three political parties set up to review and report on parliamentary reform will hold its first meeting.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Parliamentary Reform.
2.
I understand that the committee is due to meet shortly after the Easter Recess.
Would the Taoiseach state the personnel of the committee?
The members of the committee are as follows: Deputy Andrews, Fianna Fáil; Deputy R. Burke, Fine Gael; Deputy Byrne, Fine Gael; Deputy Carter, Fianna Fáil; Deputy Cooney, Fine Gael; Deputy Dowling, Fianna Fáil; Deputy T. J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan), Fine Gael; Deputy Gallagher, Fianna Fáil; Deputy Healy, Fianna Fáil; Deputy O'Kennedy, Fianna Fáil; Deputy M. O'Leary, Labour and Deputy Thornley, Labour.
Who will be chairman?
The chairman will be the Minister for Justice.
Would the Taoiseach be able to tell us what facilities will be available to this committee from the Civil Service or from what Department? I presume the committee will meet in Leinster House.
I understand the Clerk of the Dáil will make the usual facilities available.
Secretarial facilities and so forth. Could the Taoiseach say when the proceedings will be likely to conclude? I do not think any of us wants this to drag on ad infinitum. Would the Taoiseach make a recommendation to the committee that there should be a reasonable time limit?
That would be a procedural matter to be discussed at the first meeting of the committee after the Easter recess and I am sure the committee will recognise the urgency of the matter.
Will the committee make recommendations or will it be the same as it was in the case of the previous committee of just recording what is discussed without any recommendations being made?
Again that would be a matter of procedure and I cannot decide what the procedure will be.
On the other occasion the decision was taken by the House, not by the committee.
May I ask the Taoiseach that, pending the publication of the report of this committee, no major changes will be contemplated by the Government in relation to the proceedings of Dáil Éireann generally?
Why have a dog and do the barking yourself? We will wait until the committee reports.