Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

Many years ago, when the committee system was being discussed, the whole purpose of the exercise was to refer the heads of Bill to committees. That seems to have fallen by the wayside. It is an ideal means of having the general principle of legislation discussed and debated and teasing out possible difficulties at committee level and, thus, on an all-party basis. In many cases, there is little political difference between parties on certain types of legislation. Will the Taoiseach, who is a former Whip, consider the possibility of restoring the original idea of referring the heads of Bills to committees, in line with his overall desire to reform this Parliament?

See this speech in context