Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2017
66. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the commitment in the programme for Government regarding political reform; the actions that have been taken to date in 2017 regarding same; and the way in which he proposes to introduce changes in the near future [31252/17]
View answerIn relation to Dáil Reform, this Government continues to build on the Oireachtas reform packages introduced by the last Government. Implementation of the Programme for a Partnership Government requires a new relationship between the Government and Oireachtas. This is reflected in significant Dáil reforms which are being implemented, providing a significantly greater role for members of Dáil Éireann.
In the last few weeks two Private Members Bills have been passed by the Oireachtas. The Competition (Amendment) Act 2017 was originally published by Senator Ivana Bacik in January 2016 and the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Act 2017 was originally published by Deputy Tony McLoughlin in June 2016.
These arrangements require greater collaboration and sharing of information by the Government with the Oireachtas .
Central to our approach for delivering on this ambitious programme is the concept of ‘good faith and no surprises’.
This Government, and the previous Government, played a crucial role in the process of Dáil Reform including the first election of a Ceann Comhairle by secret ballot and the selection of Oireachtas Committee Chairs under a D'Hondt system among others. Following the General Election in 2016, the Dáil established an All Party Dáil Reform Committee. The Committee issued a Report in May 2016 and a number of the recommendations it made have since been introduced. The new structures are now in place a year and the Government along with the other Parties and Groups in the Dáil are currently reviewing the changes and making a number of proposals including reform of the way Private Members Bills are dealt with, the proportionality of speaking time in the Dáil and the amount of Dáil time provided to debate Government legislation among other issues.
Within my Department, there is an expanded role for the Chief Whip's Office, alongside the new Parliamentary Liaison Unit, to support these arrangements including supporting good communication between Departments and the Oireachtas, particularly in relation to progressing Government legislation through the Oireachtas.
The new arrangements include more pro-active communication between Ministers and their Departments and Opposition spokespeople and Oireachtas Committee Chairpersons and Members. It requires greater sharing of information with the Oireachtas to inform its deliberations, for example through the new Budgetary procedures, use of pre-legislative scrutiny by Committees, and more briefing on significant developments or issues.
There is a new Dáil Business Management Committee established to discuss and agree on the Dáil Schedule, more time for Private Members Business, new arrangements for Topical Motions and reformed structures for Parliamentary Questions. These all require a new approach from Ministers and their Departments and this Government is committed to ensuring it works effectively.
As regards Seanad Reform, in the Programme for a Partnership Government the Government restated its intention to reform Seanad Éireann and committed to pursuing implementation of the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform (the Manning Report). That Report was published in 2015 and it is available on my Department's website.
One of the recommendations of the Report was the establishment of an Implementation Group to oversee implementation of the reforms contained in the Report. The former Taoiseach agreed with a suggestion made in the Dáil some time ago by Deputy Martin that this Group should be based in the Oireachtas and should comprise members of the Dáil and Seanad from all parties and groups, with access to independent expert advice as required. The former Taoiseach wrote to Party Leaders in September last year seeking their agreement to the setting up of the Implementation Group and seeking nominees for same. This process is ongoing with a small number of nominees awaited. I hope this process is concluded as soon as possible and the Joint Committee is established in the very near future.
