Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is an interesting debate we have had on a number of occasions since the Government was formed. The problem is that outside of the few changes that have happened, there has been a lot of talk on Dáil reform but we have not got down to the business of major change. The original criticism of the Adjournment matters is the very same criticism people make of the Topical Issue system, other than the fact they are at a different time of the day. The Ministers in question are often not the people answering the issues so it has fallen back into the same routine that brought it into disrepute previously, where Ministers read from a script and cannot engage because they are not the line Minister.

The guillotine is a key area. It is fine to say it will change; we were told that when the revolution in democracy was being announced. We may be in emergency circumstances now but some of the legislation that has been guillotined is not urgent. I am still waiting to find out the urgency in passing the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill last week. The Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill is the same. The only reason it is being rushed is because the Government picked a timeframe but that is a moveable feast because timetables are adjusted on many issues.

I argued with the last Government and this Government about the use of the heads of Bills. The Joint Committee on Health and Children was mentioned as a yardstick but it should be the case for every Bill, other than emergency Bills that must be produced overnight, that the heads of a Bill that have passed Cabinet should be published to allow the committee to do its work. That will give greater urgency to the committee work, along with greater focus. It is a problem in committees that some of the members do not turn up. I do not know how to address that when committees are not given due consideration and support by all Members of the Houses. How often have we had to sit at committees, waiting for a quorum so we can start a meeting and get to grips with legislation or other business? I am one of those who believes there should be more committees because the best work is done by this House in committee, particularly on legislation, albeit it is ignored unless some huge statement or controversy occurs. The committees are ignored by the media, including those who do "Oireachtas Report". The hard work of being a Deputy is often ignored. I am not blowing my own trumpet; I have seen those who have sat at committee for a whole day and it is not for the love of the media. It is because it was what they were elected to do.

Last year, the Minister for Social Protection, during the guillotined debate on the Social Welfare Bill, gave a commitment that the explanatory memorandum would be published in both Irish and English. She argued that she could not produce the legislation in Irish and English at the same time but said she would try to get the Government to produce explanatory memoranda bilingually. It is not beyond the capacity of the Government to do that and it would allow Members of the House to carry out their business in both official languages.

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