Dáil is working for the people, says Government Chief Whip Joe McHugh

GOVERNMENT Chief Whip and Donegal TD Joe McHugh says the partnership administration is “getting things done” in the Dáil with up to 44 pieces of legislation expected to be passed before the Seanad rises next week.

Minister of State McHugh also welcomed a new deal on more Dáil speaking time with TDs in larger parties being allowed more time to air their views from September while also allowing smaller groupings to maintain their level of contribution.

“The Taoiseach’s main priorities on Dáil Reform since taking office last month included more Dáiltime to debate Government legislation each week and a more proportionate division of Dáil time to speak on Statements to reflect the electoral mandate of Parties and Groups in the Dáil. This has now been agreed.”

Among the changes to be introduced are:

– 3 additional hours allocated each week to debate Government legislation by the Dáil meeting each Wednesday and Thursday at 10.30 am rather than 12 noon.

– Time allocated to Parties and Groups to speak on Statements will be fully proportionate to more closely reflect the number of TDs in each Party or Group.

“We have made significant progress on the Taoiseach’s stated priorities of having more time for Government legislation and more proportionate speaking time for members in the Dáil,” said McHugh.

The Chief Whip said that since taking office 14 months ago this Government has passed 35 Acts while 47 Bills have published by Government.

“Three Bills have been passed by the Dáil and Seanad and are awaiting the President’s signature to be enacted and six Bills have been passed by the Dáil and are expected to be passed by the Seanad and sent to the President by the time the Seanad rises next week,” said Minister McHugh.

“Among the key pieces of legislation enacted since the formation of this Government include the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 which provides for two weeks of paternity leave and two weeks of paternity benefit for fathers from September 1 2016. The Criminal Justice Act 2017 is another important piece of legislation which strengthens the powers of the Courts, and of the Gardaí, in dealing with persistent serious offenders and persons on bail who pose an ongoing threat to the public.

“In addition, Tony McLoughlin’s fracking Bill was the first Private Members’ Bill from a Government TD to be enacted to law.”

Chief Whip McHugh added: “There are challenges in making the Dail more effective and more efficient under current arrangements. However I am committed to working hard to drive the necessary changes over the months ahead.

“This Government is committed to ensuring that effective and quality legislation is passed through the Oireachtas which will benefit communities and citizens across the country.

“The changes we are introducing from September will help to improve the day to day working of the Oireachtas and will result in the passage of more Government legislation in the years to come.”

ENDS

Tá an Dáil ag obair don phobal, arsa Príomh-Aoire an Rialtais Joe McHugh

• Suas le 44 Acht le bheith rite ag an Rialtas faoi dheireadh mhí Iúil

• Tuilleadh ama le reachtaíocht an Rialtais a phlé agus am labhartha níos comhréirí do chomhaltaí sa Dáil

DEIR Príomh-Aoire an Rialtais, Joe McHugh, go bhfuil ag éirí leis an rialtas comhpháirtíochta “rudaí a fháil déanta” sa Dáil agus go bhfuil suas le 44 phíosa reachtaíochta le bheith rite sula dtéann an Seanad ar scor an tseachtain seo chugainn.

Chuir an tAire Stáit McHugh fáilte freisin roimh margadh nua maidir le tuilleadh ama labhartha sa Dáil, lena ligtear do Theachtaí Dála i bpáirtithe níos mó tuilleadh ama a fháil lena dtuairimí a chur in iúl ó mhí Mheán Fómhair ar aghaidh, agus lena ligtear do ghrúpaí níos lú an leibheál rannpháirtíochta atá acu cheana a choinneáil.

“Tá sé mar cheann de phríomhthosaíochtaí an Taoisigh i dtaca le Leasú na Dála ó tháinig sé in oifig an mhí seo caite go ndéanfaí díospóireacht ar reachtaíocht an Rialtais achan seachtain agus go roinnfí am labhartha sa Dáil ar bhealach níos comhréirí a léireodh sainordú toghcháin na bPáirtithe agus na nGrúpaí sa Dáil. Tá sé sin comhaontaithe anois.”

Ar na hathruithe atá le tabhairt isteach tá:

– 3 huaire an chloig breise gach seachtain le reachtaíocht an Rialtais a phlé ag cruinniú na Dála gach Céadaoin agus Déardaoin ag 10.30am seachas meán lae.

– Beidh an t-am a dháiltear ar Pháirtithe agus ar Ghrúpaí le labhairt faoi Ráitis go hiomlán comhréireach le léiriú níos fearr a thabhairt ar líon na dTeachtaí Dála i ngach Páirtí nó Grúpa.

“Tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta againn ar thosaíochtaí sonraithe an Taoisigh i dtaca le tuilleadh ama a chaitheamh ar reachtaíocht an Rialtais agus am labhartha níos comhréirí do chomhaltaí na Dála,” arsa an tAire Stáit McHugh.

Dúirt an Príomh-Aoire go bhfuil 35 Acht rite ag an Rialtas seo ó tháinig sé in oifig 14 mhí ó shin agus gur fhoilsigh an Rialtas 47 mBille.

“Tá trí Bhille rite ag an Dáil agus an Seanad agus tá siad ag fanacht le síniú an Uachtaráin sula n-achtófar iad agus tá sé Bhille rite ag an Dáil agus táthar ag súil go rithfidh an Seanad iad agus go seolfar chuig an Uachtarán iad sula dtéann an Seanad ar scor an tseachtain seo chugainn.

“Ar na príomhphíosaí reachtaíochta a achtaíodh ó bunaíodh an Rialtas seo tá an tAcht um Shaoire agus Sochar Atharthachta, 2016, ina bhfuil foráil do choicís de shaoire atharthachta agus coicís de shochar atharthachta d’athrachta ón 1 Meán Fómhair 2016 ar aghaidh. Is píosa tábhachtach reachtaíochta eile é an tAcht um Cheartas Coiriúil 2017 lena dtreisítear cumhachtaí na gCúirteanna agus na nGardaí agus iad ag déileáil le ciontóirí tromchúiseacha dianseasmhacha agus daoine faoi bhannaí a d’fhéadfadh bheith ina mbagairt ar an bpobal.

“Ina theannta sin, ba é Bille fraiceála Tony McLoughlin an chéad Bhille Comhalta Príobháidigh ó Theachta Dála Rialtais a achtaíodh ina dhlí.”

Chuir an Príomh-Aoire McHugh lena chuid cainte: “Leis na socrúcháin reatha, tá sé dúshlánach áit níos éifeachtaí agus níos éifeachtúla a dhéanamh den Dáil. Tá mé tiomanta, áfach, d’oibriú go dian leis na hathruithe is gá a dhéanamh a bhrú chun cinn sna míonna amach romhainn.

“Tá an Rialtas seo tiomanta do chinnte a dhéanamh go ritear reachtaíocht éifeachtach ar ardchaighdeán tríd an Oireachtas, rud a rachaidh chun tairbhe do phobail agus do shaoránaigh ar fud na tíre.

“Leis na hathruithe a bheidh á dtabhairt isteach againn ó Mheán Fómhair ar aghaidh, cuideofar le hoibríocht laethúil an Oireachtais a fheabhsú agus mar gheall air sin rithfear tuilleadh reachtaíochta Rialtais sna blianta atá le teacht.”

CRIOCH

NOTES TO EDITORS

BILLS ENACTED SINCE GOVERNMENT CAME TO OFFICE ON 6TH MAY 2016

1)  Electoral (Amendment) Act 2016                            ​25/07/2016

2)  Health (Amendment) Act 2016                            ​26/07/2016

3)  Water Services (Amendment) Act 2016                        26/07/2016

4)  Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2016              ​27/07/2016

5)  Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2016                    ​27/07/2016

6)  Commission of Investigation (Irish Bank Resolution

Corporation) Act 2016                                ​​27/07/2016

7)  Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016                      ​27/07/2016

8)  Energy Act 2016                      ​​​​30/07/2016

9)  Finance (Certain European Union and Intergovernmental

Obligations) Act 2016                               ​​​26/10/2016

10) National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment)

Act 2016                                   ​​​​16/11/2016

11)  Social Welfare Act 2016                                ​​19/12/2016

12)  Appropriation Act 2016                               ​​20/12/2016

13)  Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies

Act 2016                                     ​​​​23/12/2016

14)  Finance Act 2016                              ​​​25/12/2016

15) Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2016                  ​26/12/2016

16)  Statute Law Revision Act 2016                          ​26/12/2016

17)  Road Traffic Act 2016                          ​​​27/12/2016

18)  Courts Act 2016                            ​​​28/12/2016

19)  Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2017            ​16/02/2017

20) Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017        ​22/02/2017

21)  Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Act 2017                15/03/2017

22)  Criminal Justice (Suspended Sentences of Imprisonment) Act 2017        15/03/2017

23)  Health (Amendment) Act 2017                                                          31/03/2017

24)  Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Act 2017    12/04/2017

25)  Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017                        16/05/2017

26)  Courts Act 2017                                                                                       17/05/2017

27)  Companies (Accounting) Act 2017                                                            17/05/2017

28)  Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Act 2017                                             23/05/2017

29) Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017                 24/05/2017

30)  Competition (Amendment) Act 2017                                                                 07/06/2017

31)  Companies (Amendment) Act 2017                                                                  07/06/2017

32)  Criminal Justice Act 2017                                                                                 28/06/2017

33)  Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore

Hydraulic Fracturing) Act 2017                                                                         06/07/2017

34)  Inland Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2017                                                            06/07/2017

35)  Rugby World Cup 2023 Act 2017                                                                    13/07/2017

Awaiting Enactment

Adoption (Amendment) Bill

Central Bank & Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill

Minerals Development Bill

Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Bill

National Shared Services Office Bill

Mediation Bill

Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill

Independent and Reporting Commission Bill

BILLS PUBLISHED SINCE GOVERNMENT CAME TO OFFICE ON 6TH MAY 2016

1)              Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016                           05/05/2016

2)             Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016                     17/06/2016

3)              Paternity Leave and Benefit Bill 2016                      20/06/2016

4)             Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016 [Seanad]          21/06/2016

5)              Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016 [Seanad]        30/06/2016

6)              Commission of Investigation (Irish Bank Resolution

Corporation) Bill 2016                                                         01/07/2016

7)              Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016                 08/07/2016

8)              Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2016                       08/07/2016

9)              Health (Amendment) Bill 2016 [Seanad]                          08/07/2016

10)            Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed

Conflict (Hague Convention) Bill 2016 [Seanad]               21/07/2016

11)            Criminal Justice (Suspended Sentences of Imprisonment)

2016 [Seanad]                                                                    21/07/2016

12)           Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016                                             22/07/2016

13)           Companies (Accounting) Bill 2016                                         05/08/2016

14)           Finance Bill 2016                                                                  20/10/2016

15)           Courts Bill 2016                                                                   26/10/2016

16)           Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions)

Bill 2016 [Seanad]                                                                04/11/2016

17)          Social Welfare Bill 2016                                                       04/11/2016

18)          Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential

Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]                                                08/11/2016

19)          Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016                              10/11/2016

20)          Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 [Seanad]         24/11/2016

21)          Bail (Amendment) Bill 2016                                                  08/12/2016

22)         Appropriation Bill 2016                                                          09/12/2016

23)         Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016                                        14/12/2016

24)         Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment)

Bill 2016                                                                                 22/12/2016

25)         Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill                                  23/12/2016

26)         Courts (No. 2) Bill 2016                                                         24/12/2016

27)         Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016                           29/12/2016

28)         Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2017 [Seanad]                       13/01/2017

29)         Domestic Violence Bill 2017 [Seanad]                                    03/02/2017

30)         Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017       10/02/2017

31)         Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017 [Seanad]                       13/02/2017

32)         Mediation Bill 2017                                                                13/02/2017

33)         Health (Amendment) Bill 2017                                                02/03/2017

34)         Diplomatic Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017        05/04/2017

35)         Inland Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017                                   06/04/2017

36)        Companies (Amendment) Bill 2017 [Seanad]                             06/04/2017

37)         Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Bill 2017              10/05/2017

38)        Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Bill 2017                           11/05/2017

39)         Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017                              01/06/2017

40)         Judicial Council Bill 2017 [Seanad]                                          01/06/2017

41)         Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2017    02/06/2017

42)          Independent Reporting Commission Bill 2017                           09/06/2017

43)           Rugby World Cup (2023) Bill 2017                                        19/06/2017

44)            Legal Metrology (Measuring Instruments) Bill 2017                 22/06/2017

45)            Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017      06/07/2017

46)            Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017          06/07/2017

47)            Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2017                     10/07/2017