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Sunday 24 September 2023 Dublin: 15°C

# Dáil Reform

All time
Explainer: What was the argument on Dáil speaking time all about?
Before last night, speaking rights were assigned equally during the first round of a debate after Dáil reform in 2016.
These are the other talks going on that you probably haven't heard much about
While government formation talks have been ongoing, another group are actually making a lot of progress.
Enda: 'If there's no structure to get cattle into the ring then you have a fight every morning'
Wait, what?
Fine Gael TD: Why I got really pissed off at the government
Eoghan Muphy talked parliamentary reform in a wide-ranging interview with TheJournal.ie this week.
There will be no change to the 'ludicrous situation' where absent TDs means unanswered questions
TDs have complained that there is a false impression being created that politicians are not at work because they are absent from the Dáil chamber.
'A ludicrous situation': Dozens of questions go unanswered in the Dáil because of absent TDs
And this is Dáil reform apparently…
Chancer, scoundrel, handbagging and other words you're not allowed say in the Dáil
Following a number of recent uses of ‘unparliamentary language’, we take a look at what else you can’t say…
'Two weeks of backslapping is really over the top and it's quite unprecedented'
The government has admitted that legislation is not ready to come before the house as the Dáil again spends several hours this week debating the government’s priorities for the year ahead.
Convention favours Ceann Comhairle secret ballot and change to whip system
More than 60 per cent of members also supported the introduction of ‘family-friendly’ hours for TDs.
Middle East and African politicians to learn from Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention will discuss Dáil reform this weekend.
Sinn Féin wants seven-seat Dáil constituencies and use of PPS numbers for electoral register
The party has outlined a set of radical political reforms which will have little chance of being implemented by the current government.
TDs will be allowed to register their abstention on Dáil votes
Rather than vote Yes or No, a deputy will be able to officially abstain from a vote on a piece of legislation or a motion under changes likely to be implemented later this year.
'The elephant in the room': Government's Dáil reforms do little to appease opposition
It’s no surprise that the opposition doesn’t think the government has done enough Dáil reform, but TDs think that even some changes that have been introduced aren’t working.
Committee chairs have 'serious concerns' over workload and say they need more staff
A letter from the chairpersons of the Oireachtas committees to the Ceann Comhairle has raised “serious concerns” about the workloads faced in 2014 as a result of the plans to scrutinise legislation before it comes before the Dáil.
Absent TDs and unanswered questions leave Micheál Martin criticising Dáil reforms
Changes to the question time have been criticised but the government chief whip has defended the new format following near-farcical scenes in the chamber on Thursday.
Leo Varadkar: The government has too much control over the Dáil
The Transport Minister was frank about the government’s control of the legislature in the Dáil this afternoon.
TDs will sit earlier and for longer from this week
Under changes taking effect this week Leaders’ Questions move to midday on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
"One cannot have instability": Taoiseach rules out loosening the party whip
Fine Gael backbenchers quizzed the Taoiseach on political reform in the Dáil last night.
Reform Alliance seeks debate and wants directly elected Seanad
One of their members Denis Naughten TD also says that “there might have been a different result on Saturday had the Dáil had been reformed first.”
Here's how the Dáil will pass legislation if the Seanad is abolished
Committees would be radically overhauled and given the task of scrutinising legislation to an even greater degree under the government’s reform plans.
'Bogus' and 'populist': The opposition's take on Dáil reform plan
Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Green Party have rounded on Enda Kenny’s proposals to lengthen Dáil sittings and beef up the pre-legislative processes.
Government pledges that TDs will sit earlier and for longer
The Dáil will start earlier on a Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays than it currently does and Friday sittings will be every two weeks instead of every month as is the case at present under government proposals outlined today.
Government chief whip will look at allowing free votes after next election
Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe has hinted at possible changes to the strict party whip system as the coalition will today launch its plans for Dáil reform.
What was on Minister Bruton's agenda today? Well, here are his notes
A portion of the Jobs Minister’s notes were caught on camera outside Leinster House today.
Fianna Fáil proposes referendum to reduce government control of Dáil agenda
The opposition party released a policy discussion document this week which proposes a raft of reforms to the way the Irish parliament does business.
Fine Gael’s record on Dáil reform is slammed by... Fine Gael’s chairman
Charlie Flanagan says the current weighting of Dáil rules mean the ‘real opposition’ is the government backbenchers.
Hogan appoints five-member panel to oversee Seanad referendum
The Referendum Commission will be chaired by Justice Elizabeth Dunne, whenever the Oireachtas passes the referendum bill.
Explainer: What else will change if we scrap the Seanad?
The formal legislation to change the Constitution and delete the Seanad is out today. So what’s in it?
Government announces Dáil reform plans if Seanad is scrapped
A referendum to overhaul the Oireachtas and abolish the Seanad is planned for early October.
The system for electing TDs could be about to face a massive overhaul
The 100-member Constitutional Convention has voted to investigate “an entirely new electoral system” for picking TDs.
'Not fit for purpose?' Why the Dáil's party whip system may need reform
The whip system – where TDs must vote with their party position or risk expulsion – is the subject of some debate in political circles but immediate reform, ahead of potentially divisive abortion debate, appears unlikely.
Free vote for TDs among radical proposals for Dáil reform
Goverment TDs should be allowed to vote against their party on certain matters under proposals by backbench TD Eoghan Murphy in an internal document circulated among Fine Gael members this week.
Oireachtas agenda: Criminal records, job creation and childhood poverty
All of that, and the Seanad gets to reform the Dáil… here’s what’s happening today in Leinster House.
TGIF: How have the Dáil’s Friday sittings worked out?
As we approach the end of another Dáil term, we’ve been asking the government and the opposition how the much-vaunted sittings of the Dáil on the first Friday of every month have been working out.
Overhaul sees number of Oireachtas committees increased
The Programme for Government included a pledge to reduce committee numbers – but the survivors had too much work.
Column: Abolish the Seanad? Here's a better idea to fix our political system
Parish-pump politics is crippling our democracy – so Simon Tuohy offers a radical new proposal to fix the system.
Dáil votes to give itself more work... after seven weeks' holidays
When the Dáil returns on September 14 it will begin work earlier and sit for longer hours under a reformed system.
Leinster House strikes €300,000 deal for staff night-time taxi service
Staff working after 10pm are entitled to take taxis home – but plans for Dáil reform should cut how often they’re used.
Labour launches reform policy for parliament and laws
Labour’s ‘New Government, Better Government’ policy outlines plans for whistleblowers’ legislation and Seanad abolition.