Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Publishes Annual Report

Efficiency – doing better with less

Good advances have been made on the delivery of the Commission’s goal of “doing better with less”. Doing more with less is happening at a time of significantly increased outputs in this Dáil – for example, sitting hours increased by 12% and sittings by 30% when comparing the second half of 2011 against the previous two years.

The Houses of the Oireachtas has also managed to meet the demand for services and increased outputs with significantly less civil servants in place. Overall numbers are reduced by some 11% since 2009.

Supporting the sittings of the Houses and their Committees during 2011 encompassed:

• 108 Dáil sittings (845 sitting hours)
• 81 Seanad sittings (520 sitting hours)
• 315 Committee meetings (541 sitting hours)
• 30 Committee Reports
• 84 Bills published as initiated
• 2,249 amendments tabled to Bills
• 48 Bill reprints as a result of amendment or passage by both Houses
• 37,397 Parliamentary Questions processed

Comparative Benchmarking of Parliaments

Our Report on Comparative Benchmarking of Parliaments indicates that, compared to 23 parliaments surveyed, the Irish Parliament has:

• recorded fourth place in relation to sitting days with a total of 189 days;
• recorded fourth place in relation to sitting hours with a total of 1,365 hours;
• the second highest number of Parliamentary Questions tabled annually across 18 parliaments and the second highest number of Parliamentary Questions per member;
• the seventh highest number of visitors to parliament as a percentage of population out of 18 parliaments represented;
• less administrative staff per member, less political staff per member and less total staff per member than the average.

Further specific findings of the benchmarking initiative are reflected throughout the annual report.

Cost of running Parliament

In terms of finance, the Commission’s original estimate for 2011 was €113 million. Actual overall spend in 2011 was €119.9 million which included €21.7 million for costs associated with the 2011 general elections. These additional costs were budgeted for 2012 but, due to the earlier than expected general elections, were brought forward to 2011.

Dáil and Seanad Reforms and Engaging with the Public

Last year saw a number of Dáil reforms, including extended sittings times and Friday sittings for members to introduce their own legislation. Reforms also included a new appeal mechanism for Parliamentary Questions and the introduction of topical issues debates. These debates have proven popular with Deputies as they can now raise current issues with Ministers early in the Dáil sitting day allowing members play a more active and immediate role in parliament.

In July 2011, Senators passed a motion allowing people in public and civil life to address sittings of Seanad Éireann. Under the new arrangements, people have been invited to make an address to the chamber and have had, and will continue to have, an opportunity to exchange ideas and views with Senators. In addition, the Seanad Public Consultation Committee was launched in October 2011 to provide for direct engagement and consultation between members of the public and the 24th Seanad.

In November, the Commission established a sub-Committee to oversee the preparation of a detailed cost-effective Parliamentary Channel Development Plan. This coincided with the launch, by the Commission and UPC, of a pilot transmission of Oireachtas proceedings on a dedicated parliamentary transmission called \"Oireachtas TV\" on UPC channel 801.

To read our annual report, click here: http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/about/annualreports/Annual-Report-2011.pdf

http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/about/annualreports/Tuarascail-Bhliantuil-2011.pdf

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551