Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The rationale for the early appointment of a chairman of the Referendum Commission is to respond to the requests made previously in reports of referendum commissions that the commission be established at an earlier date. The proposition being put to the people is one that must be debated and decided on by the House. The Referendum Commission operates independently. The Deputy knows well that it does not take a position one way or the other on what is being put to the people. Previous referendum commissions have recommended that a commission be appointed at an earlier date. What the Government is proposing in regard to reform of this House is a new procedure for the processing of legislation. In the first instance, the heads of a Bill would be discussed by the relevant Oireachtas committee before formal drafting. This is already in operation and there is a general acceptance that it is a better way of doing our business. While Report and Final Stages of Bills are taken together, it is proposed that Report Stage be taken in the normal way and that the Bill then be returned to the relevant committee for reflection on issues that may have been missed or may require further re-examination. As part of this process, a facility would be provided whereby Oireachtas committees could obtain the advice of experts and others interested in the legislation concerned. It is not just a question of how legislation is dealt with in this House-----

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