I move:
That, in accordance with the recommendations under Standing Order 107(1)(a) of the sub-Committee on Dáil Reform, and with effect from Tuesday 21st November, 2017, the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business be amended as follows:
(a) in Standing Order 23, in paragraph (1), by the substitution of ‘10.30 a.m.’ for ‘12 noon’;
(b) in Standing Order 25, by the substitution of the following for paragraph (1):
‘(1) The sitting shall be suspended—
(a) on Wednesdays, for an hour on the conclusion of oral Questions to the Taoiseach under Standing Order 39(1) (save on Wednesdays where the Dáil meets at 2 p.m.), and
(b) on Thursdays, for forty minutes on the conclusion of the weekly division time under Standing Order 70(2).’;
(c) in Standing Order 29A, by the substitution of the following for paragraph (3):
‘(3) Topical issues selected by the Ceann Comhairle shall be considered—
(a) on Tuesdays (and on Wednesdays where the Dáil meets at 2 p.m.), immediately following Questions to a member of the Government under Standing Order 38(1)(b);
(b) on all other Wednesdays, immediately following the suspension of sitting under Standing Order 25(1); and
(c) on Thursdays, on the conclusion of Government business, but not later than 5 p.m.’;
(d) in Standing Order 38, by the substitution of the following for subparagraph (1)(b):
‘(b) Questions for oral answer to other members of the Government shall be taken—
(i) on Tuesdays (and on Wednesdays where the Dáil meets at 2 p.m.), immediately following oral Questions to the Taoiseach under Standing Order 39(1); and
(ii) on all other Wednesdays and on Thursdays, at 10.30 a.m.’;
(e) by the adoption of the following Standing Order in substitution for Standing Order 110A:
‘110A. (1) There shall stand established following the reassembly of the Dáil subsequent to a General Election, a Standing Committee which shall be joined with a similar Committee of the Seanad to constitute the Joint Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht, the Islands and the Irish-speaking Community, to perform the functions set out in this Standing Order, other than those set out at paragraph (3) which shall be performed by the Dáil Standing Committee.
(2) The Joint Committee shall consider policy matters relating to the Irish language, Gaeltacht, the Islands and the Irish-speaking Community generally within the remit of Government Departments and associated public bodies and, in particular, shall consider—
(a) strategy in relation to the Irish language, including the 20 Year Strategy on the Irish Language 2010- 2030 and future strategies, and the promotion of the Irish language in general,
(b) Irish language literature, music, culture and related matters,
(c) the promotion of the wider use of Irish in the proceedings of both Houses of the Oireachtas, their Committees and in the environs of both Houses,
(d) the promotion of the Irish language across the civil and public service, including progress in the implementation of Irish Language Schemes in public bodies,
(e) reports of An Coimisinéir Teanga and related matters,
(f) matters relating to An Foras Teanga, both in relation to Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency,
(g) the teaching of Irish and education in Irish,
(h) the statutory responsibilities of Radio Teilifís Éireann and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in relation to the Irish language,
(i) matters relating to Irish language broadcasters, including TG4, Raidio na Gaeltachta, Raidio na Life and Raidio RíRá, and
(j) any other matters relating to the Irish language, Gaeltacht, the Islands and the Irish-speaking Community.
(3) The Dáil Standing Committee shall consider such—
(a) Bills relating to the Irish language, Gaeltacht, the Islands and the Irish-speaking Community,
(b) aspects of Estimates for Public Services as relate to the Irish language, Gaeltacht, the Islands and the Irish-speaking Community, and
(c) other related matters,
as shall be referred to it by the Dáil, and
(d) such Value for Money and Policy Reviews and annual output statements, including performance, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public moneys on the Irish language, Gaeltacht, the Islands and the Irish-speaking Community as the Committee may select.
(4) The Dáil Standing Committee shall consist of seven members of Dáil Éireann, of whom three shall constitute a quorum. The quorum of the Joint Committee shall be four, of whom at least one shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and one a member of Seanad Éireann. The Chairman of the Dáil Standing Committee shall also be the Chairman of the Joint Committee.
(5) The Dáil Standing Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 85(1), (2) and (3).
(6) The Joint Committee shall, in respect of its remit, have the powers defined in Standing Order 85, other than paragraphs (2A) and (6A) thereof.
(7) The Joint Committee shall be empowered under Standing Order 84A to consider—
(a) the general scheme or draft heads of any Bill relating to the Irish language, Gaeltacht, the Islands and the Irish-speaking Community, and
(b) any post-enactment report laid before either House or both Houses by a member of the Government or Minister of State on any Bill relating to the Irish language, Gaeltacht, the Islands and the Irish-speaking Community enacted by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
(8) The provisions of Standing Orders 87, 89 and 95 shall apply to the Dáil Standing and Joint Committee as appropriate.
(9) The Joint Committee shall be defined as the “Joint Oireachtas Committee” for the purposes of the Broadcasting Act 2009 insofar as it relates to TG4.’; and
(f) in Standing Order 140, in subparagraph (1)(b), by the substitution of ‘immediately following topical issues under Standing Order 29A’ for ‘immediately following the suspension of sitting under Standing Order 25(1)’.”