WHAT ARE OUR politicians doing in the halls of Leinster House?

TheJournal.ie lets you know with our guide to what’s coming up to the Dáil, Seanad and various Oireachtas committees today.

DÁIL

Technically every TD is a ‘Deputy’, but Thursday really is ‘Deputies Day’ when the Leas Ceann Comhairle presides over Leaders Questions alongside the Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore, and the deputy leaders of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the technical group. That’s at 10:30am.

The rest of the morning is spent discussing the Companies Bill, a mammoth piece of legislation which consolidates existing law on setting up companies, and also aims to make it a little bit easier to set up a new one (and, therefore, a business).

Four topical issues are considered at at 3:42pm, while Jimmy Deenihan takes Questions to the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht at 4:30pm to round off the day.

The day’s Dáil business can all be viewed here.

SEANAD

The Seanad’s day kicks off with the usual discussion on matters local and global (10:30am) before members welcome Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP to their fold.

Continuing a series of addresses by Irish MEPs to mark Ireland’s 40 years in the EU, Gallagher will speak about the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy at 11:45am, and take questions from members afterwards.

The day’s Seanad business can all be viewed here.

COMMITTEES

The light day in the chambers means most of the business takes place in the committees:

• The committee on Health and Children resumes its discussion on organ donation in Ireland at 9:30am, when it entertains a slew of medical experts to discuss the medical perspective on organ donation. At 11:45am it will then hear from members of the IMB and Department of Health officials to discuss the policy perspective. (Watch here.)
• Also at 9:30am, the joint sub-committee on Fisheries continues its consideration of inland fisheries, the tourism potential of Irish fisheries, and more. Today its experts include Alyne Delaney from Aalborg University in Denmark, and Stephen Hynes from NUIG’s Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit.
• The Public Accounts Committee will welcome its old favourite Tony O’Brien, the incoming director-general of the HSE, when it meets at 10am to examine HSE spending in 2011. (Watch here.)
• The Finance sub-committee also meets at 10am to hear from Michael Noonan as members discuss further amendments to the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill 2011, which beefs up the power of the Financial Regulator. (Watch here.)
• Finally, in a last-minute addition, Simon Coveney will attend the Agriculture committee at 12:45pm to discuss the fodder crisis. (Watch here.)

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