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.”
As Gaeilge:
Suas le 44 Acht le bheith rite ag an Rialtas faoi dheireadh mhí Iúil
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.”
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