Desmond J. O'Malley
Question:34 Mr. O'Malley asked the Taoiseach whether he envisages that Ministers will be liable to be summoned before the four new standing Committees to be established in Dáil Éireann.
Written Answers. - Dáil Standing Committees.
Where the House decides that the proceedings on departmental Estimates and the Committee Stage of Bills are to be considered by a committee such Estimates and Bills will be discussed with the Committee by the relevant Minister.
In accordance with Article 28.4.1º of the Constitution Ministers are answerable to the Dáil only and not to committees. Accordingly, it is proposed that Ministers will not ordinarily be involved in the deliberations of the new committees other than in the processing, in the normal way, of financial and legislative business.