Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

It had a bi-monthly meeting where a group of representatives from all parties could agree on something, and the Clerk of the Dáil would proceed under the chairmanship of the Ceann Comhairle. Issues now go before a commission and unelected people are telling us how to run the Oireachtas.

I fully support the work of committees but there are too many of them. These committees were set up to mark each Department, although there is no need for that. Legislation is being passed in committee rooms with two people in a room, which is not the way to do it. Legislation should be examined in this Chamber and if we must sit on a Friday in order to complete a Committee Stage, let it be so. Every Member should have a right to the debate and it should be broadcast on radio and television.

Every year a finance Bill is examined in a committee room and there would be two men and a dog present except the dog would not be allowed in. Nobody knows what is happening in the debate so it is a complete waste. We should go back to the days when committees dealt with the heads of a Bill and proposals from the Government. People can be invited in for their opinions before a report goes to the Government.

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