Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Select Committee on Justice and Equality had its first meeting this morning, dealing with the Paternity Leave and Benefit Bill. However, as I speak, we have no certainty as to when the joint committee will sit. I understand the difficulty is that the appointments to the various Oireachtas committees from the Seanad have not yet concluded. It is absolutely disgraceful, after this long period of time, that we are faced, a couple of weeks before the recess, without even the opportunity of addressing a work programme. This applies to all of the committees. I ask the Taoiseach to establish why there is such an inordinate delay by the Seanad in appointing members to the joint Oireachtas committees, and to ensure that is done as expeditiously as possible so we can progress our programme of work.

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