Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jan 2010

Vol. 700 No. 3

Membership of Committees: Motion.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Pat Carey)

I move:

That Deputy Seamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle) be discharged from the Joint Administration Committee and that Deputy Ned O’Keeffe be appointed in substitution for him.

That Deputy Seamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle) be discharged from the Joint Committee on Economic Regulatory Affairs and that Deputy John O’Donoghue be appointed in substitution for him.

That Deputy Ciarán Cuffe be discharged from the Select Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and that Deputy John O'Donoghue be appointed in substitution for him.

Deputy Seán Barrett

I beg the indulgence of the Ceann Comhairle to speak on the issue of the staffing of committees. As a result of the recruitment embargo——

An Ceann Comhairle

I am simply asking if the motion is agreed to.

Deputy Seán Barrett

This is important and it is to do with committees. I have no wish to be out of order but because of the embargo——

Deputy Michael D. Higgins

The Deputy's microphone is off.

Deputy Seán Barrett

——a number of vacancies occurred as a result of retirements and so on, especially in respect of clerks of the committees, and no replacements are available. We are reaching a situation whereby a clerk is being asked to look after two committees.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Barrett must find a better way to raise this issue.

Deputy Seán Barrett

This will only take two seconds. I call on the Minister for Finance and the Government Chief Whip to note that it is a joke to continue with the same number of committees when we do not have the staff to run them.

Deputy Liz McManus

Hear, hear.

Deputy Seán Barrett

There is no point in pretending we can do this.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Barrett must find a better way to deal with this matter.

Deputy Seán Barrett

These committees will fall into disrepute because they will not be able to do their work. One cannot expect a clerk to look after two or three committees and carry out duties in the Dáil and so on. It is not possible. The only thing one can do is review the whole system of committees.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission.

Deputy Seán Barrett

That is all I am asking for.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the motion agreed to?

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I support the views expressed by my colleague.

An Ceann Comhairle

Fine.

Question put and declared carried.