Vol. 427 No. 6
6 Mr. Deasy asked the Taoiseach when an announcement as to the constitution of the new Dáil Committees will be made; and if the Chairmanships of these committees will be equally divided amongst members of the Government and Opposition parties.
The establishment of the committee system will form part of the discussions which I will hold with the other Whips this week on all aspects of the Government's Dáil reform proposals.
As the Deputy knows it has never been the case that committee chairmanships were divided equally between members of the Government and Opposition parties.
How soon does the Minister of State expect the committees to function?
I expect two of them to be in operation almost immediately because we have cleared the expediency motions, they are the Committee of Public Accounts and the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I would like to see the other committees in operation within a matter of weeks but that is a matter I will be discussing with the Whips.
I am aware that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, and the Committee of Public Accounts, are in existence. I am asking about new committees and the chairmanships of those committees. May I have an undertaking that some of those committees will be chaired by Deputies from the Opposition parties?
I presume the committees to which the Deputy has referred are the four standing committees of the House. They will be established as soon as I conclude my negotiations with the Whips. I hope those discussions will conclude this week. I cannot confirm that any of the positions of chairperson will go to Opposition Deputies.
Did I hear "can" or "cannot".
"Cannot".
I was wondering if I was hearing correctly.
The Deputy has not heard correctly in years.
Do I gather that it is the intention of the Government to claim the Chair of all these committees? Is that what the Minister said?
The Deputy's hearing is good.
It is the intention, to follow the practice of the past, that whenever Bills were sent to committees of the House there was always Government chairpersons of such committees.
Will the Minister of State accept that this appears to be a blatant abuse of democracy——
No.
——and that it adds to the general cynicism among the general public in regard to the activities of this Government and, effectively, seems now to be more jobs for the boys to keep the backbenchers quiet?
It is time the Deputy gave up this.
I would not accept what the Deputy said and it is cynical remarks like his that possibly conveys that attitude to the public.
Cynical actions like this convey also that attitude.
Will the Minister of State say when he expects the foreign affairs committee to be established? Given that it is not a legislative committee can he say whether it is intended that a chairperson from the Opposition parties will be in charge of that committee? Is it intended to circulate in advance of its formation the proposed terms of reference of that committee?
The same reply applies to the foreign affairs committee as applies to the others, it will be a matter for discussion between the Whips and I would like to have it in place in the near future. I stand corrected on this, but I understand that the terms of reference of the foreign affairs committee have been circulated. I will check that.
Will the Minister of State elaborate on a new office holder within the committee system, that of convenor? Will he clarify the role and function of the convenor within the committee system and if such an office holder will be paid. Will he confirm that proportionality between the parties will apply to the positions of convenor?
I do not want to delay the House on this matter but I dealt with the role of the convenor in great detail when we discussed Dáil reform. I shall let the Deputy have a detailed note on that separate question. It is intended that the committees would organise their business and that there would be a need for convenors, not only Government convenors but also an Opposition convenor to ensure——
To ensure what, Minister? What exactly will be convenor do? Will that person send out notices, make telephone calls or ensure that members attend meetings?
Please, let us have an orderly Question Time.
If Deputy Flanagan was present for the debate on Dáil reform he would have heard the full reply. I will let the Deputy have the full details of what the convenors will do. In general, the purpose of the convenors is to ensure that the business is done expeditiously.
Will there be a system for convenors?
On the foreign affairs committee, is the Minister of State aware that the Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities was always chaired by a Member of the Opposition? Will that precedent be followed? Will the foreign affairs committee fulfil the role envisaged in the Maastricht Treaty in regard to national parliaments, in that European affairs would be dealt with separately?
Previously the Joint Committee on Women's Rights was chaired by an Opposition Member and will the Minister of State confirm that will be the case in future?
On the last question, I can confirm that the committee will be chaired by an Opposition Deputy. If I recall correctly, the Deputy made these points during the course of the debate on Dáil reform and — I passed on his observations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The new committee is an obvious conduit for the approach suggested by the Deputy and I expect it to be within its terms of reference.
The Minister has told us it is a matter for agreement between the Whips and can he tell the House how many committees, if any, will be chaired by an Opposition Member other than the Joint Committee on Women's Rights and the Committee of Public Accounts which he must do statutorily? How many positions of chairperson has he offered the Opposition?
Round the House and mind the dresser.
I am sure the Deputy would agree that the Opposition has found me to be very fair in my dealings with them. They will get a fair share of the committees.
What is meant by a fair share?
I call Deputy Bernard Allen. I will call Deputy Máirín Quill for a final question.
Will the Minister confirm or deny the existence of a memorandum before Cabinet proposing the positions of vice chairmen and assistant convenors?
More jobs for the boys.
The Deputy should know — he has been a Member of the House longer than I have — that I cannot discuss what comes before the Cabinet.
That would be a terrible thing to do.
I call Deputy Máirín Quill for a final question on the subject.
May I ask the Minister if it is intended to reconstitute the Select Committee on Crime, given that one of its reports received widespread approval in this House during the debate last Friday and the acknowledgement by the Minister that the work of the committee will be incorporated in impending legislation? Very valuable and necessary work was carried out by that committee and I wish to know if it is proposed to reconstitute it?
It is not my intention at present to reconstitute that committee. The committee dealing with legislative and security matters will deal with many of the matters previously dealt with by that committee. Again, it is a matter I will discuss with the Whips.
That is a pity.
Questions Nos. 7 and 8 in the name of Deputy John Bruton are postponed.
