asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the Government's plans for further areas of Dáil reform; when it is intended to commence Friday sittings to deal with Private Members' Bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dáil Reform.
1.
Dún Laoghaire): The Government have already introduced a substantial number of Dáil reform measures, such as the new committee system; the new questions system; the new format for debating Estimates and new procedures for debating reports laid before the Oireachtas. The Deputy will also be aware that the proceedings of the House are now being broadast by RTE.
A number of other reform measures are in the course of preparation at present. These include a new system of explanatory and financial memoranda on Bills and a new system for Private Members' Bills. The latter is at an advanced stage and I expect draft amendments to Standing Orders to be considered shortly by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Other reform measures which I am examining at present include procedures to allow Deputies to raise matters of concern in the Dáil; a review of Standing Orders to see how they might be improved to streamline Dáil business and a general review of the committee system to see how it might be improved.
Can the Minister tell us if he proposes to circulate the draft amendments to Standing Orders to all Deputies so that all can be involved in the review procedure?
(Dún Laoghaire): The procedure is that amendments to Standing Orders are approved first by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and a motion is placed on the Order Paper for debate.
Just to bring reality into the proceedings, would the Minister tell us what is happening in regard to a significant aspect of Dáil reform, publication before the end of the year of the Book of Estimates? Again to add reality to my question, would he inform us when the Book of Estimates will be published?
(Dún Laoghaire): The Book of Estimates is a matter for the Government. It will be published when it is ready. Amendments to procedure are circulated to us when they are ready. I hope we have learned quite a bit during the last four years in relation to the preparation of Estimates. I cannot see why some new procedures cannot be devised by the incoming Dáil. Personally, I consider the matter should be put before one of the committees.
I am sure the Minister of State is aware that not all Deputies are represented on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. In view of that, would it not be appropriate to circulate draft amendments to Standing Orders to those Deputies who are not members of the committee so that their views could be considered by the committee before the committee make decisions?
(Dún Laoghaire): It would be impossible to have a Committee on Procedure and Privileges consisting of 116 members. Membership at the moment represents all Members of the House and when amendments to Standing Orders are approved by the committee they come into the House for debate, and any Member is entitled to propose amendments or to vote against proposed amendments.
The Minister was wrong when he said the committee has representation from all parties in the House.
(Dún Laoghaire): I did not say that.
The committee have members of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour. Would the Minister not accept that it would be at least a courtesy to inform those Members who are not on the committee about changes proposed so that they could let the committee have their views on them before a decision is made on amendments to Standing Orders?
(Dún Laoghaire): I said it would be impossible to have a committee consisting of 116 members. Those members represent, in the views and considerations they put before the committee, all the Members of this House, irrespective of political party. When the committee want to make recommendations to the House they do so by putting a motion before the House. Any Member can then come in and debate, amend or seek to amend the proposals of the committee.