agenda.ie a guide to what's going on in Leinster House

THIS PARLIAMENTARY TUESDAY is a little more crowded that usual; an extra multitude of committee meetings that the day features many more third parties than usual, and more fora for them to appear in.

11:30am – Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade – One of the hot topics of the season, Ireland’s overseas aid, gets an airing in Room 1. Brendan Rogers, the director of Irish Aid, discusses the alleged misappropriation of Irish funding in Uganda.

11:30am – Committee on Education and Social Protection – At the same time, over in Room 3, the subject of Fianna Fáil’s Dáil motion for this week – the backlog of student grant applications – is discussed. Representatives from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) and the City of Dublin VEC, the body which houses it, will be in to discuss the problems processing applications.

1:30pm – Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation – It’s a two-part meeting in Room 2: at 1:30pm the Credit Review Office and the Irish Banking Federation are in to talk about lending to small businesses; at 3pm it’s the turn of Chambers Ireland to discuss how to create the best environment for job creation and sustainability.

2:00pm – Questions (Minister for Social Protection) – Joan Burton kicks off the Dáil week by answering questions on the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, changes to rent supplement, free travel passes and social welfare appeals waiting lists.

2:00pm – Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine – In Room 3 members will discuss European plans to legislate for persistent organic pollutants, before the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association visit to offer their thoughts on Budget 2013 and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

2:15pm – Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht – Unusually, there’ll be two cabinet ministers popping in to room 4: both Phil Hogan and Jimmy Deenihan discuss the pre-Budget submissions sent about their briefs, while Hogan will also address the Report of the Pyrite Panel and the progress made in implementing its recommendations.

2:30pm – Order of Business – The Seanad resumes after the long, referendum-laden weekend with a 75-minute discussion on whatever members like.

3:15pm – Leaders’ Questions – Enda Kenny takes marquee questioning from the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the technical group.

3:36pm – Questions (Taoiseach) – With that done, Enda takes more sedate questioning on staff allowances, the IFSC clearing house group, and future bilateral meetings with David Cameron.

4:30pm – Statements on the Economy – There’s only one item on the Seanad’s agenda: a 90-minute discussion on the economy and where it’s heading. Brian Hayes will lead it.

4:36pm – Order of Business – TDs get 30 days to agree to the day’s agenda…

5:06pm – Topical Issues – …and 48 minutes to discuss four of the day’s newsworthy issues, with backbenchers and ministers, for 12 minutes apiece.

5:54pm – Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012 (report stage resumed) – Just over an hour will be devoted to finalising the Dáil’s consideration of the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, which will forever put a legal limit on the size of a Budget deficit that Ireland can run up. It’s a condition of the Fiscal Compact.

6:30pm – Matters on the Adjournment – With the economy discussed – and, presumably, solved – there’ll be discussion of three miscellaneous matters before the night ends.

7:00pm – Credit Union Bill 2012 (second stage) – Most of tomorrow will be spent discussing this legislation, but there’s 90 minutes of a headstart tonight. The Credit Union Bill would see the government gain the legal power to change the structure behind credit unions in order to safeguard their future stability, and also set up a recapitalisation fund to fix ones with financial difficulty.

7:30pm – Private Members’ Business [Fianna Fáil] – Motion re student grants and supports – As mentioned earlier, Fianna Fáil’s motion deals with educational supports, and more specifically the backlog of grant applications building up. FF’s motion would not only see the government commit to action, but also agree not to cut grant levels or other supports for those in full-time college education. Debate continues until 9pm and continues tomorrow.

9:00pm – as 7pm – Further debate on the Credit Union Bill will bring the night to 10pm, and its suspension.

All of the day’s business can be viewed on our streams:

• Dáil: Web stream, Facebook stream
• Seanad: Web stream, Facebook stream
• Committee Room 1: Web stream, Facebook stream
• Committee Room 2: Web stream, Facebook stream
• Committee Room 3: Web stream, Facebook stream
• Committee Room 4: Web stream, Facebook stream