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Caught on Camera
What was on Minister Bruton's agenda today? Well, here are his notes
A portion of the Jobs Minister’s notes were caught on camera outside Leinster House today.
(Image Credit: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)
A PORTION OF JOBS Minister Richard Bruton’s notes were caught on camera as he headed into Leinster House earlier today.
The notes give a tantalising insight into the inner-workings of government but from what we can tell there are no great revelations contained in the portion that we can see of a memo concerning plans to reform the Dáil’s committee system.
The ‘Memorandum for the Government Dáil Reform’ is dated 12 July 2013 and appears to request government approval for measures aimed at overhauling the Dáil’s committee system as promised by the government under plans to abolish the Seanad – the referendum for which is being held in October.
We’ve cast an eye over the picture above and can make out the following hand-written notes:
- DeHondt – the method that is being proposed as a way of allocating TDs to Dáil committees.
- New/Next Committees
- Their apt - meaning ‘appointment’
- PQ Legislation – this could refer to parliamentary questions
- Budget Scrutiny
- Role of CC – this could refer to the Ceann Comhairle.
- Taoiseach Q – this could refer to questions to the Taoiseach
- Leaders Q – this is probably related to Leaders’ Questions
- [Triangle shape] in bicameral – Bicameral is the term used for a two chamber system of government, as Leinster House currently has with the Dáil and the Seanad. The pyramid shape could be something to do with the organisation of power but this is pure speculation on our part.
- Get out B4 [unclear] July – get the proposals out before July.
- Topical ans or nominate them – This could be in relation to answers to topical questions which has been controversial for relevant ministers not attending the sessions.
And finally…
- Leo – Underlined, twice. Could this be his party colleague, Minister Leo Varadkar? And what was so important?
Though we are open to correction we don’t think there’s any great revelation in these notes.
One of the images where the notes were visible. (Image Credit: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)
They are certainly not of the magnitude of those belonging to Bob Quick, a former British counter terrorism police chief, who inadvertently exposed a document marked ‘secret’ as he walked into Downing Street in April 2009.
As a result of this a counter terrorism operation – Operation Pathway – was exposed and forced police to make twelve arrests in the northwest of England within hours.
Quick resigned the next day.
Click here to view a larger version of the image, and tell us what you think in the comments below.
- additional reporting Hugh O’Connell
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Read: Does Richard Bruton still want Enda Kenny’s job?
