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

ENDA’S OFF to Brussels to try and further the cause of Ireland’s economic reform, and while he’s away there’s a distinctly financial tone to today’s events. 9:30am – Committee on Health and Children – The day kicks off in Room 2, where members of the Irish Premature Babies Organisation will be present to mark World Premature Day; […]

AFTER CONDENSING the consideration of the Children’s Rights referendum into three days last week (and not the previously intended four), it’s back to four-day duty for the Dáil this week as the First Friday means opposition legislation. Nonetheless, the week must begin somewhere… 1:30pm – Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation – Getting the ball […]

IT’S ANOTHER European-themed day in the Dáil, while the Seanad has some luminary visitors and the Seanad deals with some slightly more cultural matters. 9:30am – Justice, Defence and Equality – Sean Sherlock begins the day, in room 2, to discuss a very weighty matter – a proposal for an EU directive on the freezing and confiscation […]

The Dáil finally gets rid of the Social Welfare bill today, while the committee rooms will see Enda Kenny make a rare visit downstairs, guests from Sweden, and more. No sittings for the Seanad today, which will be in for a lengthy day tomorrow to make inroads on the Social Welfare Bill. 9:30am – Sub-committee […]

What had otherwise promised to be a day laden with committee activity has taken on a whole new light after yesterday’s concession that the government would need to call a referendum on the EU Fiscal Compact deal. This piece has been updated at 11:22am to take account of amendments to the Dáil schedule in light […]

Today’s Business is dominated by Dáil debates on that most contentious piece of legislation – the mandatory inspection of septic tanks – but otherwise there’s some interesting bits and pieces around the houses. 9:30am – Jobs, Social Protection and Education – The day begins in Room 3, as it often does, where members will compile their […]

The Dáil week is largely dominated by polishing off older legislation, but there are nonetheless some interesting exchanges in store across the board. Here’s Tuesday’s kickoff: 12:30pm – Order of Business – The Seanad kicks off unusually early with its daily 75-minute of banter – though never fear, because once the agenda is agreed upon, […]

[Updated, 15.48] As with yesterday, today’s business in the two houses is largely taken up with procedural stuff – meaning that the meat of the action will actually take place in committees. Nonetheless, here’s what the day has in store: 9:30am – Jobs, Social Protection and Education – The day begins in Room 3, when members […]

Starting this week – and, well, it’ll only be this week because the houses are on recess from next week – I’m trying an experiment where instead of one catch-all post with the week’s events, I’m going to do a more daily digest of what’s going on in Leinster House.

We’re told that there’ll finally be some news on the committees front this week – at least, that’s what the official sources have said – so we could be looking at a slightly more chocker schedule in the coming weeks. Until then, welcome to the first week of full sittings in both the Dáil and […]