Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Okay. In that case, I will ask the Chairman about something mentioned in private session regarding the new Dáil and how it works. There was a new standing order passed in respect of every Bill coming back for full scrutiny. I am a little confused about the procedures. Standing Order 141(3) states that we can or must scrutinise a Bill under the new Dáil regulations. My understanding, as a new Deputy, is that parliamentary procedures are such that the Bill, at this point, should come to a select committee comprising only Members of the Dáil and that the latter would examine it. Later on, it would be returned to the Seanad. Now, we have the Bill coming to a joint committee of both Senators and Deputies for scrutiny. Is this not a new departure? Does it not fly in the face of the whole procedure of the Dáil looking at the Bill, making a decision on it and then it being returned to the Seanad in order that it might copperfasten matters?