Houses of Oireachtas report for 2017 highlights achievements and public engagement

The 11-member commission, which is responsible for running the Houses of the Oireachtas, reports an increase in parliamentary activity and public engagement.

Significant developments and headline statistics of 2017 include:

• The Houses initiated 156 Bills, passed 41 and processed 58,820 parliamentary questions;
• The Houses sat for a combined total of 190 days (1,429 hours). Dáil Éireann sat for 104 days totalling 923 hours, Seanad Éireann 86 days and 506 hours;
• Oireachtas Committees addressed complex and sensitive issues including Water Service charges, the future of health care, and the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, held 665 meetings, heard from 2,179 witnesses, produced 80 reports, and considered 34 public petitions;
• As part of the Dáil Reform agenda, the first Director of the Parliamentary Budget Office was appointed and this newly established office has produced a wide range of  briefing, analysis and infographic publications;
• The Office of the Parliamentary Legal Advisor was strengthened and expanded to provide greater support for TDs and Senators in the drafting of Private Members’ Bills; and
• The Houses received 95,336 visitors, including 52,000 on guided tours and student groups invited as part of expanded education programmes overseen by a newly recruited Parliamentary Education Officer.

Chairman of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl says the 2017 expansion of the Oireachtas’ social media footprint and a focus on increasing public engagement are paying dividends this year as staff organise a yearlong programme of “Vótáil 100” events highlighting the centenary of women’s right to vote.

“Our social media presence continues to reach wider audiences enabling them to engage with the Houses in different ways and receive regular information updates about parliamentary business,” he said. “Oireachtas TV is making parliamentary proceedings accessible to many more people. Proceedings are also live streamed on the Oireachtas app. To complement these efforts, the Oireachtas website has been fully redesigned allowing users to more easily access a wider range of parliamentary information.”

The Ceann Comhairle paid tribute to staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Office of Public Works and the National Museum of Ireland for working together in advancing the restoration of Leinster House. 

“The programme of restoration work is focused on preserving the heritage building for future generations while meeting the evolving needs of parliamentarians,” he said, adding that the temporary 2017 Seanad move into National Museum premises “was completed on schedule, allowing the sittings and business of the Seanad to continue without interruption.”

Read the full annual report in English here.

Read the report in Irish here.