New Oireachtas committees
A summary of the new Oireachtas committees as the Dáil and Seanad get down to business.
With the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad almost six months old, the Oireachtas committees have been formed and their work has commenced. The new Government has reformed the committee system (see pages 88-89). There are seven sectoral joint committees, comprising members of both houses, covering the work of 15 departments; four non-sectoral joint committees; and three Dáil standing committees. Joint committees have sub-committees called select committees: a Dáil select committee and a Seanad select committee. All committees are supported by a secretariat.
Committee membership is normally proportionally representative of the House which establishes it. Because of the size of the newly constituted committees, with six of the seven sectoral committees covering the work of more than one department, select sub-committees have been created. For example, the Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture has a select sub-committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and one on Agriculture, Marine and Food. August is the only month where there are no committee meetings.
Among the other committees is the Joint Committee on European Affairs, at which Irish MEPs (including Northern Ireland MEPs) and Irish members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe can attend and participate, but cannot vote. They have the same entitlements at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.
TDs of Dáil select committees are members of the joint committees of the same name but the select committee is solely responsible for dealing with the committee stages of bills referred to it by he Dáil, the Estimates for Public Services (annual expenditure proposals) for government departments and international agreements involving a charge on public funds. Ministers are ex-officio members of the Dáil select committees when such committees are considering legislation or estimates for public services.
Joint committees are mandated to work on:
• public affairs administered by the department (and its agencies) whose work it covers;
• policy for which the department’s minister is responsible;
• proposals for EU legislation and related policy;
• departmental strategy statements; and
• annual reports of a department and agencies under its aegis.
Sectoral committees
| Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee | |
| Chair: Andrew Doyle | FG |
| Deputy Chair: John O’Mahony | FG |
| TDs | |
| Tom Barry | FG |
| Michael Colreavy | SF |
| Pat Deering | FG |
| Robert Dowds | Lab |
| Martin Ferris | SF |
| Noel Harrington | FG |
| Martin Heydon | FG |
| Colm Keaveney | Lab |
| Mattie McGrath | Ind |
| Michael McNamara | Lab |
| Michael Moynihan | FF |
| Éamon Ó Cuív | FF |
| Thomas Pringle | Ind |
| Senators | |
| Michael Comiskey | FG |
| Paschal Mooney | FF |
| Mary Ann O’Brien | Ind |
| Brian Ó Domhnaill | FF |
| Pat O’Neill | FG |
| John Whelan | Lab |
| Clerk: Josie Briody Tel: (01) 618 3717 Email: Josie.Briody@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Health and Children Committee | |
| Chair: Jerry Buttimer | FG |
| Deputy Chair: Ciara Conway | Lab |
| TDs | |
| Catherine Byrne | FG |
| Michael Colreavy | SF |
| Regina Doherty | FG |
| Robert Dowds | Lab |
| Peter Fitzpatrick | FG |
| Seamus Healy | WUAG |
| Derek Keating | FG |
| Billy Kelleher | FF |
| Eamonn Maloney | Lab |
| Charlie McConalogue | FF |
| Mattie McGrath | Ind |
| Denis Naughten | FG* |
| Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin | SF |
| Senators | |
| Colm Burke | FG |
| John Crown | Ind |
| David Cullinane | SF |
| John Gilroy | Lab |
| Imelda Henry | FG |
| Marc MacSharry | FF |
| Jillian van Turnhout | Ind |
| Clerk: Patricia Doran Tel: (01) 618 3147
Email: Patricia.Doran@oireachtas.ie *Lost the party whip in July |
|
| Justice, Defence and Equality Committee | |
| Chair: David Stanton | FG |
| Deputy Chair: Joanna Tuffy | Lab |
| TDs | |
| Dara Calleary | FF |
| Michael Creed | FG |
| Tom Hayes | FG |
| Seán Kenny | Lab |
| Finian McGrath | Ind |
| Jonathan O’Brien | SF |
| Billy Timmins | FG |
| Senators | |
| Ivana Bacik | Lab |
| Paul Bradford | FG |
| Martin Conway | FG |
| Rónán Mullen | Ind |
| Denis O’Donovan | FF |
| Clerk: Alan Guidon Tel: (01) 618 3899 Email: Alan.Guidon@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Environment, Transport, Culture and Gaeltacht Committee | |
| Chair: Ciarán Lynch | Lab |
| Deputy Chair: Noel Coonan | FG |
| TDs | |
| James Bannon | FG |
| Paudie Coffey | FG |
| Niall Collins | FF |
| Marcella Corcoran Kennedy | FG |
| Clare Daly | SP |
| Timmy Dooley | FF |
| Dessie Ellis | SF |
| Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan | Ind |
| Terence Flanagan | FG |
| Kevin Humphreys | Lab |
| Seán Kenny | Lab |
| Sandra McLellan | SF |
| Tony McLoughlin | FG |
| Catherine Murphy | Ind |
| Gerald Nash | Lab |
| Patrick O’Donovan | FG |
| Brian Stanley | SF |
| Robert Troy | FF |
| Brian Walsh | FG |
| Senators | |
| Eamonn Coghlan | Ind |
| Cáit Keane | FG |
| Denis Landy | Lab |
| Catherine Noone | FG |
| Labhrás Ó Murchú | FF |
| Ned O’Sullivan | FF |
| Clerk: Eugene Ó Cruadhlaoich Tel: (01) 618 3575 Email: eugene.ocruadhlaoich@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Committee | |
| Chair: Alex White | Lab |
| Deputy Chair: Liam Twomey | FG |
| TDs | |
| Richard Boyd-Barrett | People Before Profit |
| Thomas P Broughan | Lab |
| Michael Creed | FG |
| Jim Daly | FG |
| Pearse Doherty | SF |
| Stephen Donnelly | Ind |
| Timmy Dooley | FF |
| Seán Fleming | FF |
| Joe Higgins | SP |
| Heather Humphreys | FG |
| Kevin Humphreys | Lab |
| Peter Mathews | FG |
| Mary Lou McDonald | SF |
| Michael McGrath | FF |
| Olivia Mitchell | FG |
| Seán Ó Fearghaíl | FF |
| Jonathan O’Brien | SF |
| Kieran O’Donnell | FG |
| Arthur Spring | Lab |
| Billy Timmins | FG |
| Senators | |
| Sean D Barrett | Ind |
| Thomas Byrne | FF |
| Michael D’Arcy | FG |
| Aideen Hayden | Lab |
| Tom Sheahan | FG |
| Katherine Zappone | Ind |
| Clerk: Ronan Lenihan Tel: (01) 618 3169 Email: Ronan.Lenihan@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Jobs, Social Protection and Education Committee | |
| Chair: Damien English | FG |
| Deputy Chair: Aodhán Ó Riordán | Lab |
| TDs | |
| Ray Butler | FG |
| Áine Collins | FG |
| Joan Collins | People Before Profit |
| Michael Conaghan | Lab |
| Barry Cowen | FF |
| Seán Crowe | SF |
| Tom Fleming | Ind |
| Brendan Griffin | FG |
| John Halligan | Ind |
| Seán Kyne | FG |
| Anthony Lawlor | FG |
| John Lyons | Lab |
| Nicky McFadden | FG |
| Mary Mitchell O’Connor | FG |
| Aengus Ó Snodaigh | SF |
| Willie O’Dea | FF |
| Brendan Ryan | Lab |
| Brendan Smith | FF |
| Peadar Tóibín | SF |
| Senators | |
| Deirdre Clune | FG |
| John Kelly | Lab |
| Michael Mullins | FG |
| Marie Louise O’Donnell | Ind |
| Averil Power | FF |
| Feargal Quinn | Ind |
| Clerk: Tara Kelly Tel: (01) 618 3481 Email: Tara.Kelly@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee | |
| Chair: Pat Breen | FG |
| Deputy Chair: Bernard J Durkan | FG |
| TDs | |
| Eric Byrne | Lab |
| Pádraig Mac Lochlainn | SF |
| Michael McNamara | Lab |
| Dara Murphy | FG |
| Dan Neville | FG |
| Seán Ó Fearghaíl | FF |
| Maureen O’Sullivan | Ind |
| Senators | |
| Deirdre Clune | FG |
| Mark Daly | FF |
| Lorraine Higgins | Lab |
| Michael Mullins | FG |
| David Norris | Ind |
| Jim Walsh | FF |
| Clerk: Paul Kelly
Tel: (01) 618 3167 Email: Paul.Kelly@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Investigations, Oversight and Petitions Committee | |
| Chair: Peadar Tóibín | SF |
| Deputy Chair: Michael McCarthy | Lab |
| TDs | |
| Dara Calleary | FF |
| Joan Collins | People Before Profit |
| Michael Conaghan | Lab |
| Alan Farrell | FG |
| Charles Flanagan | FG |
| Michael Healy-Rae | Ind |
| Peter Mathews | FG |
| Charlie McConalogue | FF |
| Michelle Mulherin | FG |
| Derek Nolan | Lab |
| Aengus Ó Snodaigh | SF |
| John Paul Phelan | FG |
| Mick Wallace | Ind |
| Senators | |
| Trevor Ó Clochartaigh | SF |
| Jimmy Harte | Lab |
| Tony Mulcahy | Lab |
| Darragh O’Brien | FF |
| Susan O’Keeffe | Lab |
| Clerk: Anne-Marie Fahy Tel: (01) 618 3045 Email: Anne-Marie.Fahy@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Administration Committee | |
| Chair: Tom Hayes | FG |
| Deputy Chair: Jerry Buttimer* | FG |
| TDs | |
| John Browne | FF |
| Eric Byrne | Lab |
| Áine Collins | FG |
| Andrew Doyle | FG |
| Dessie Ellis | SF |
| Tom Fleming | Ind |
| Heather Humphreys | FG |
| Paul Kehoe | FG |
| Seamus Kirk | FF |
| John Lyons | Lab |
| Anne Phelan | Lab |
| John Paul Phelan | FG |
| Brian Stanley | SF |
| Jack Wall | Lab |
| Senators | |
| Terry Brennan | FG |
| Paul Coghlan | FG |
| Marie Moloney | Lab |
| Diarmuid Wilson | FF |
| Clerk: Anne-Marie Fahy Tel: (01) 618 3045 Email: Anne-Marie.Fahy@oireachtas.ie
*A replacement for Jerry Buttimer as Deputy Chair is expected in September. |
|
| Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement | |
| Chair: Dominic Hannigan | Lab |
| Deputy Chair: Joe O’Reilly | FG |
| TDs | |
| Seán Conlon | FG |
| Seán Crowe | SF |
| Clare Daly | SP |
| Regina Doherty | FG |
| Alan Farrell | FG |
| Frank Feighan | FG |
| Martin Ferris | SF |
| Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan | Ind |
| Micheal P Kitt | FF |
| Joe McHugh | FG |
| Aodhán Ó Ríordáin | Lab |
| Brendan Smith | FF |
| Joanna Tuffy | Lab |
| Senators | |
| Jim D’Arcy | FG |
| Maurice Cummins | FG |
| Martin McAleese | Ind |
| Mary Moran | Lab |
| Mary White | FF |
| Clerk: Paul Kelly Tel: (01) 618 3167 Email: Paul.Kelly@oireachtas.ie |
|
| European Union Affairs Committee | |
| Chair: Joe Costello | Lab |
| Deputy Chair: Pascal Donohue | FG |
| TDs | |
| Timmy Dooley | FF |
| Bernard J Durkan | FG |
| Colm Keaveney | Lab |
| Seán Kyne | FG |
| Pádraig Mac Lochlainn | SF |
| Joe O’Reilly | FG |
| Mick Wallace | Ind |
| Senators | |
| Colm Burke | FG |
| Fidelma Healy Eames | FG |
| James Heffernan | Lab |
| Terry Leyden | FF |
| Kathryn Reilly | SF |
| Clerk: John Hamilton Tel: (01) 618 3924 Email: john.hamilton@oireachtas.ie |
|
Dáil committees
| Members’ Interests Committee | |
| Chair: Thomas Pringle | Ind |
| TDs | |
| John Browne | FF |
| Olivia Mitchell | FG |
| David Stanton | FG |
| Jack Wall | Lab |
| Clerk: Sinead McCann Tel: (01) 618 3040 Email: Sinead.McCann@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Procedure and Privileges Committee | |
| Chair: Seán Barrett | Ceann Comhairle |
| TDs | |
| Joe Carey | FG |
| Martin Heydon | FG |
| Paul Kehoe | FG |
| John Lyons | Lab |
| Nicky McFadden | FG |
| Catherine Murphy | Ind |
| Seán Ó Fearghaíl | FF |
| Aengus Ó Snodaigh | SF |
| Emmet Stagg | Lab |
| Clerk: Martin Groves Tel: (01) 618 3201 Email: martin.groves@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Public Accounts Committee | |
| Chair: John McGuinness | FF |
| Deputy Chair: Kieran O’Donnell | FG |
| TDs | |
| Paul J Connaughton | FG |
| John Deasy | FG |
| Paschal Donohoe | FG |
| Anne Ferris | Lab |
| Seán Fleming | FF |
| Simon Harris | FG |
| Michael McCarthy | Lab |
| Mary Lou McDonald | SF |
| Eoghan Murphy | FG |
| Derek Nolan | Lab |
| Shane Ross | Ind |
| Clerk: Ted McEnery Tel: (01) 618 3867 Email: Ted.McEnery@Oireachtas.ie |
|
Seanad Committee
| Members’ Interests Committee | |
| Chair: Deirdre Clune | FG |
| Senators | |
| Ivana Bacik | Lab |
| Maurice Cummins | FG |
| David Cullinane | SF |
| Rónán Mullen | Ind |
| Darragh O’Brien | FF |
| Jillian van Turnhout | Ind |
| Clerk: Anne-Marie Fahy Tel: (01) 618 3045 Email: Anne-Marie.Fahy@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Procedure and Privileges Committee | |
| Chair: Paddy Burke | Cathaoirleach |
| Senators | |
| Ivana Bacik | Lab |
| Paul Bradford | FG |
| Paul Coghlan | FG |
| Maurice Cummins | FG |
| Lorraine Higgins | Lab |
| Rónán Mullen | Ind |
| Darragh O’Brien | FF |
| Denis O’Donovan | FF |
| Susan O’Keeffe | Lab |
| Jillian van Turnhout | Ind |
| Diarmuid Wilson | FF |
| Clerk: Deirdre Lane Tel: (01) 618 3357 Email: Deirdre.Lane@oireachtas.ie |
|
| Committee work programmes | |
| Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture | • New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewEra)
• Broadband • Employment in the green economy • Implementation of smart grid • Bio-energy and forestry • Geothermal energy • REFIT energy scheme • Petroleum exploration off Ireland • Lough Allen basin shale gas hydraulic fracturing • Development of sugar industry |
| Environment, Transport, Culture and Gaeltacht | Not yet published |
| European Union Affairs | • EU political priorities as set out in the Commission’s State of the Union address
• EU Polish presidency’s priorities (European security and integration) • Unlawful access by third parties of personal information on mobile phones • Promoting the work of the committee and engaging with the public • Preliminary planning for Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013 • EU humanitarian aid programme • Economic recovery |
| Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform | Not yet published |
| Foreign Affairs and Trade | • Trade promotion (in particular in Asia, Ireland-China relations and the Middle East)
• The Irish Aid programme • Global Irish Economic Forum (to be held in Farmleigh in September) • Ireland’s Presidency of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (2012) • Middle East peace process • Irish community abroad |
| Jobs and Social Protection | • Improving the department’s service levels
• Securing economic recovery • Maximising employment • Tackling fraud and abuse • Implementing the other commitments in the Programme for Government |
| Health | Not yet published |
| Justice, Defence and Equality | Not yet published |