John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Ring asked specifically about replies from Ministers and whether I would bring it to their attention. I can do that, but his question was a separate issue to Dáil reform. Deputy Stanton asked about the proposals that came from the Government at the time. Without going into the full list - they are included in the minutes of the sub-committee - the proposals envisaged the Taoiseach and the Opposition leaders spending less time in the Dáil but that their time would be consolidated; the Dáil would sit for longer periods throughout the year and there would be earlier sitting times; the Taoiseach would answer parliamentary questions only once a week; and the Chief Whip would handle questions on promised legislation on Thursday. The full context of those are in the minutes from the sub-committee. There is a difference on whether the sub-committee should meet or not, and I will discuss that privately with the Deputy afterwards.

See this speech in context