WHAT’S GOING ON in Leinster House?

Every day the Dáil and Seanad are sitting, TheJournal.ie brings you the most comprehensive guide to what our lawmakers are getting up to in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

So, here is what we can expect to be happening in the Dáil, Seanad and Committee rooms today…

3 things we’ll be keeping an eye on

• The Finance Committee will resume its discussions on mortgage arrears in Room 3 today. Lorcan O’Connor, Director of the Insolvency Service of Ireland, will address the committee at 10 am. Patrick Honohan, Governor of the Central Bank, will be interviewed at 3 pm.
• As the Garda Representative Association annual conference continues in Killarney, Justice Minister Alan Shatter will be answering questions related to his department at 2.30 pm.
• Leaders’ Questions will be happening at 4.33 pm today. Following the Cabinet meeting on water charges this morning, there should be plenty to talk about.

Everything else that’s happening in the Dáil

• Topical Issues will be discussed at 3.45 pm, where everything and anything will come up.
• The Order of Business will be read at 4.54 pm.
• Following this, the Public Health (Sunbeds)  Bill 2013 and the Children First Bill 2014 will be discussed from 5.24 pm. The former looks at banning sunbeds for people under the age of 18 and the latter proposes better provision for the care and protection of children.
• During Private Members Business at 7.30 pm, the Technical Group will put forward a motion on the “current housing and homelessness emergency in the country” whereby a shortage in housing has led to it becoming increasingly unaffordable.
• The Dáil will adjourn at 9 pm.

Everything happening in the Seanad

The Seanad is adjourned until 7 May. (Pic: Tumbleweed via GifBin.com)

Everything else that’s happening in the Committees

• The Communications Committee will meet with representatives from Irish TV, CRAOL (the Irish Community Radio Movement) and Dublin Community TV in Room 4 at 12 pm to debate the implications of the proposed new broadcasting charge on community broadcasters.
• HSE representatives will come before the Health Committee in Room 4 at 4 pm to discuss agencies that receive funding under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004. Over €3.4 billion was distributed to health agencies in 2012, including €41.3 million to the Rehab Group and €16.2 million to the Central Remedial Clinic.
• Justice Minister Alan Shatter will debate the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014 with the Justice Committee in Room 2 at 5 pm. The Bill proposes the dissolution of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority and the transfer of their functions to an amalgamated body.

Here’s how to watch what’s going on in Leinster House today:

• Dáil Éireann
• Seanad Éireann
• Committee Room 1
• Committee Room 2
• Committee Room 3
• Committee Room 4
• To access streams on iOS, click here

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