Vol. 418 No. 6
6 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the additional resources which he proposes to make available to the Houses of the Oireachtas so as to enable them to provide for the servicing of the new foreign affairs committee and the Oireachtas committee on employment and unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
54 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the need to improve the performance of the Oireachtas and the role of committees, he will outline whether he is prepared to make extra resources available, including both personnel and finance, so as to meet the all party agreement on the establishment of new Oireachtas committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 54 together.
I can assure the Deputies that when firm proposals in connection with the staffing and financing of these committees are submitted to me, I will see to it that whatever resources are necessary will be made available to service the committees. It would be pointless, in advance of the receipt of such proposals, to go into any more detail at this time.
In relation to his reference to "firm proposals", can the Minister say if this is an indication that either he or his Department have already turned down "not so firm" or tentative proposals? Would he confirm that his Department have not signalled their reluctance to make extra resources available for the committees in question?
I would not be so negative, Deputy. As I support the establishment of the employment committee — the Deputy has advocated that such a committee be established — I informed the Whips in my talks with them that I would be prepared to help in any way I can.
In respect of the other committees, the Select Committee on Crime, the foreign affairs committee and the reconstituted Oireachtas Joint Committee on Secondary Legislation of the European Communities, would the Minister confirm to the House authoritatively that his Department, or officials acting on his behalf, have not signalled their reluctance or, indeed, their opposition to provide extra staff to enable the committees to function?
It is my understanding that they have received no proposals, not even tentative ones.
What was their response to the inquiries?
It is my information that they have received no inquiries. As the Deputy is aware — this would apply in the case of the Select Committee on Crime also — the position since 1983 is that the staff should be drawn from the parent Department, or sponsor, of the committee. I am not sure, however, if it will be possible to do this in the case of the new committee which will be established during the lifetime of this Dáil but Departments will be required to release staff with expertise in this area. Other resources will also be required to carry out research and other functions. The Deputy may take it that I am anxious to get the new committee up and running.
Is the Minister saying that they will get the extra staff?
I am prepared to help them in making a submission but I do not know what it will entail.
(Limerick East): Is the Minister aware that an enormous amount of extra pressure is being imposed on the staff of the Editor of Debates as a result of the increase in the number of committees which have to be reported? Would the Minister consider this matter with a view to providing extra staff to that section of the House?
While it is the Ceann Comhairle who is responsible for these affairs, we should look at these matters at some stage. I do not disagree with either Deputy Quinn or Deputy Noonan. My own view is that we should make greater use of the committee system and less use of the House and follow the pattern set by other parliaments. That is a far better system. Unlike other parliaments, we try to use both.
Let us have our own budget and take the Department officials off our backs.
The Deputies would then complain that we had not accounted for every penny. Approximately ten of the questions that we will deal with today relate to civil servants and the need to follow regulations and circulars.
The Ceann Comhairle would love to run this House with the assistance of its Members.
That will be the day.
Deputies want to make sure that civil servants adhere to circulars going back to 1979 and account for every penny. They cannot have it both ways.
