Committees and Sub-Committees and Select Committees of

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland read ...

and Joint Committees of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann are small groups of Deputies of the lower and Senators of the upper houses of the

Oireachtas The Oireachtas (, ), sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the Bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of: *The President of Ireland *The bicameralism, two houses of the Oireachtas ...

, the parliament of the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. A ...

. Some committees are formed by statute after every general election, others are formed by agreement for a full parliamentary term or for a specific issue on a time-limited basis. Committees are formed on a proportional basis from members of the political parties/groups in each house. Chairs of committees are granted a stipend for their work. Some committees scrutinise the work and proposed legislation from specific Government Departments, and senior

Ministers Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

or junior Ministers of State as well as public servants or representatives of semi-state bodies and organisations supported by state funding are also regularly invited to address such committees.

Private meetings

Committees agree their agendas and ways of working, or discuss matters of a sensitive nature, in private meetings.

Public meetings

Committees hold public meetings where individuals are asked to address a committee, or be questioned by it.

Parliamentary privilege

Per Bunreacht na hÉireann, when addressing a committee in

Leinster House Leinster House ( ga, Teach Laighean) is the seat of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Ireland. Originally, it was the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, ...

, contributors are protected by limited

parliamentary privilege Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties. ...

, but it is the custom of committees to ask contributors to desist from referring (directly or undeniably) negatively to individuals who are not present at such a committee meeting.

Committee of Privileges

The Constitution provides for the formation, at the direction of the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

, following a request of 30 Senators, of a joint "Committee of Privileges", to decide on whether a specific

Bill Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Plac ...

meets the definition of a " Money Bill", which would be subject to a maximum delay of 21 days by a Seanad resolution. This Committee would be chaired by a

Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

Judge.

Proposed Constitutional change 2011

The Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2011, put to a

referendum A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...

in October 2011, sought to empower each House to convene (possibly jointly) Committees of Inquiry, with powers to compel withness statements, and to make findings against citizens. The referendum was defeated by 53% to 47%. In 2013 a referendum to remove the Seanad proposed extensive changes of committees. This was defeated by 51.7% to 48.3%.

Current Committees

Dáil Committees

* Public Accounts Committee

Joint Committees

* Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine * Joint Committee on European Union Affairs * Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands * Joint Committee on

Health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

* Joint Committee on

Transport Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land (rail and road), water, cable, pipeline, an ...

and Communications * Joint Committee on Gender Equality * Joint Committee on Disability Matters * Joint Committee on International Surrogacy * - (Joint Committee on The

Irish Language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

, The

Gaeltacht ( , , ) are the districts of Ireland, individually or collectively, where the Irish government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular, or language of the home. The ''Gaeltacht'' districts were first officially recog ...

s and the Use of Irish in Public) * Select Committee on

Education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

and Further And Higher Education, Research, Innovation And Science * Joint Committee on the Implementation of The Good Friday Agreement

Former committees

* Joint Committee on Women's Rights * Joint Committee on Marriage Breakdown * Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation * Joint Committee on the Irish language * Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the

European Communities The European Communities (EC) were three international organizations that were governed by the same set of institutions. These were the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), and the ...

* Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis, (post-2008) * Joint Committee on Health and Children * Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade * Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (32nd Dáil) * Joint Committee on Justice and Equality

References

External links

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Oireachtas