asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism in his capacity as Leader of the House, if he is satisfied with the way in which the committee system as restructured at the beginning of this Dáil is functioning; and if he will consider bringing together the chairpersons of the committees with a view to seeing if the terms of reference of the committees need to be changed, or if some committees might be discontinued and if other areas might be suitable for committee-type work.
Written Answers. - Dáil Committee System.
12.
Given that the Dáil had no tradition in such an expanded system of committees, the system is functioning in a satisfactory manner. As the system matures, it will become a more integral part of the functioning of the Oireachtas.
It is not necessary to bring together the chairpersons of the committees to review the terms of reference. Amendments have been made to the terms of reference of various committees either as a result of requests from individual committees for a change or as a result of proposals coming from me through Government. An example of the latter was the addition to the terms of reference of the Joint Committee on Legislation asking for a review of the manner in which delegated legislation is processed and monitored by the Oireachtas. Every change in the terms of reference of a committee must, of course, be approved by the Dáil.
The number of committees which can function effectively in the Oireachtas is determined, in the main, by the number of Oireachtas members. The Government indicated in Building on Reality that a committee on socio-economic affairs would be established to examine the longer term implications of social and economic policies. The detailed terms of reference for this committee will have to be considered by Government following which the matter will be brought before the House.
I do not think that the resources of the Oireachtas in terms of membership, administrative facilities, etc. would support further extensions of the committee system until such time as some of the existing committees complete their work. The Deputy will be aware that the Joint Committees on Marriage Breakdown and on Building Land reported in mid-1985 but that a committee on the Irish language was established at the end of 1984.
Informal arrangements exist whereby the chairpersons of Oireachtas committees meet at the beginning of each year to discuss and agree the allocation between committees of the consultancy and advertising funds provided in the Estimates. I will be consulting the chairpersons in relation to allocations for 1986.
I should mention that the Government have agreed that the work of individual committees, as evidenced by their reports, should be given greater prominence. Accordingly, I have put proposals before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which will involve the Dáil sitting for a period each week outside what are now normal hours specifically to debate committee reports and other reports laid before the Dáil. Until such proposals are considered by the committee, it would not be appropriate for me to give further details of them.