12 Noll 2014, 15:41
Further to proceedings in the Dáil today on Committee Stage of the Water Services Bill 2014, the following is issued by way of clarification as to what is allowable under Standing Orders at Committee stage of any piece of legislation.
At Committee stage of a bill, the Bill is considered Section by Section.
When an amendment to a given Section is moved, the contributions by Members must be relevant to the specific amendment.
It is not in order to deal with extraneous matters. Nor is it in order to debate amendments that have already been discussed and agreed/not agreed. Amendments that have been ruled out of order may not be discussed.
When all of the amendments to a Section have been disposed of, Members may debate the provisions of the Section before the question on the Section is put.
However, again, this does not entitle Members to re-run the debate on the amendments to that Section which have been disposed of, or to repeat what they themselves or other Members have already said in the course of the debate on the Section under scrutiny or previous Sections.
The rules governing Committee Stage strike a fair balance between on the one hand the right of Members to properly debate and scrutinise legislation, and on the other, the need to ensure that legislation can be processed in an orderly and efficient way through the House.
It is the role of the Ceann Comhairle to ensure that Members adhere to these rules as set out in Standing Orders when making their contributions.
Further Information:
Verona Ni Bhroinn
Press and Public Relations Officer,
01-618 3881, 087 2624132