Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach said yesterday that the problem with the issue of progressing Private Members' business in this House was that we had not adopted the Dunning report. A meeting of the Sub-Committee on Dáil Reform agreed that the first Dunning report was not being implemented. However, the main culprit in that regard is the Government, which, despite a request from the Parliament to advertise the job of head of legal services in February, has not sanctioned the recruitment. If anyone is delaying this, it is the Government.

The second Dunning report would be restrictive on the powers of the Legislature. I believe this is the view of virtually all members of the committee which examined the matter. Indeed, I am afraid the second report will not be implemented as is. Will the Government ensure that the advertisement for legal services support is sanctioned straight away? Will the Government engage with the Sub-Committee on Dáil Reform to ensure that we free up Private Members' legislation processes here rather than blocking issues and muddying order messages as a way of stopping the Legislature working? That is what is happening at present.

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