Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

With regard to No. 68, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill, has any comparative work been done on the role of parliaments? It is suggested that the Bill will be published in 2009. Has the opportunity been taken to examine the function of parliaments or will there be an opportunity for public consultation? I raise this matter to be of assistance to the Ceann Comhairle because many people have taken upon themselves the role of people who know how parliament should or should not be run. Many of them are rather ignorant and ill informed. Therefore, it would be useful, in so far as this comparative work has been done in other parliaments, to provide an opportunity for people who are more patient and thoughtful to make a contribution to assist the legislation. To what committee will the legislation go, where will it be discussed, will there be an opportunity for discussion or will it be just a short, sharp piece of legislation that comes from Government and leaves matters just as bad as they are.

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