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

THERE’LL BE a sense of carnival about today’s business in Leinster House, though it’s not likely to translate to those of us watching from a distance. Enda Kenny is leading a delegation of no fewer than 11 ministers, ten of them Cabinet attendees, to Brussels to discuss Ireland’s priorities for its presidency of the European […]

NOT WASTING any time in getting past the Fiscal Compact, the Dáil hits the ground with both of the other EU-themed bills, while the Seanad and committees take care of other business. 9:30am – Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (sub-committee) – Richard Bruton gets the ball rolling in Roon 3, guiding members through committee stage of his […]

THIS WEEK is a relatively quiet one in the Oireachtas – with only a smattering of committee meetings as members prepare for a long weekend. 2:00pm – Questions (Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht) – Jimmy Deenihan gets things going in the Dáil, beginning the week with his usual rota of parliamentary questions. Among […]

Perhaps a sign of the planets aligning in this new pre-referendum era, the Dáil’s week is tied up with legislation offering procedural ratification of Ireland’s participation in the second Greek bailout (though Ireland won’t itself be contributing any new cash to it). There are still some interesting bits and pieces around the Houses elsewhere. 1:30pm […]

After yesterday’s hi-jinks in Brussels, it’s a relatively sedate day for the Oireachtas, as members ease their ways back into the week. There is, however, one routine item of business which should attract an unusual amount of public attention, given recent events… 2:00pm – Questions (Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht) – The Dáil’s week […]

10am – Public Accounts Committee – In its weekly Thursday kick-off, the Public Accounts Committee pulls a magnifying glass over funding for childcare, school attendance and funding for the Department of Children & Youth Affairs. Room 1. 10am – Health & Children – In room 2, meanwhile, the HSE’s chief executive Cathal Magee pops in to brief […]

Again, most of the Dáil’s business will be wrapped up with getting through legislation this week – but elsewhere in the houses there are enough to keep one’s eyes peeled for. Here’s what’s kicking off the week on Tuesday. 1:30pm – Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture – Kicking off the week in Room 3, food safety minister […]

Schooooooools out, for, summer… today’s the last day before the backbenchers TDs decamp for a staycation, and the ministers jet off to anywhere where they won’t be recognised for a while. But before that, some stuff to get through.

This week sees the first meetings of most of the Oireachtas committees, who will ceremonially come together to decide on who will take their chairmanships. (This is likely more meaningful for those involved than for the public – a committee chair gets a cool €9,500 a year for their fortnightly input.) Other than that, the […]