Whistleblowers, more whistleblowers and everything else happening in Leinster House today

What’s going on in the world of Irish governance today? This is…

WANT TO KNOW what’s going on in Leinster House today?

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:

After yesterday’s announcement that Seán Guerin SC will head up a probe into garda whistleblower allegations, there’s several sessions dedicated to it today. Statements begin in the main chamber at 10.00 am headed up by Minster for Justice Alan Shatter. Statements will continue until Leader’s Questions and will resume at 2.39 pm until 5.30pm if more time is needed.
The Oireachtas Justice Committee will hear from various support and interest groups including the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Sex Workers Alliance Ireland on how to reduce domestic and sexual violence. That’s in Committee Room 2 at 10am.
‘Enda, you’re up.’ An Taoiseach takes Leader’s Questions at noon.

Everything else happening in the Dáil:

The Dáil gets all Topical about Issues at the precise time of 12.51 pm.
New whistleblowers legislation in the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 has 45 minutes of debate from 5.30 pm.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin, who’s job it is to keep a watch on spending in Government departments, has some questions to answer at 6.15 pm.
It’s the second day of debate on the Technical Group‘s motion about An Post, that’s off at 7.30pm. Read about it here.

Everything else that’s happening in the Seanad

The bill on Upward Only Rent Reviews is approaching its final stages and it Senators will put their heads together on the matter from 3.00 pm. The bill has had its problems with the Government losing a vote on it in the Seanad before.
8,304 people were sent to prison for non-payment of fines in 2012 and the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013 seeks to bring that figure down. The bi ll’s delay has been criticised so Senators will be looking to have their skates on from 1.00 pm.
Last month, we told you about the changes that are afoot for people who live on houseboats and cruise Ireland’s waterways. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is one of a number who’ll be speaking about the issue.
Reforms of leave under the Parental Leave Bill 2013, which contains previsions to allow the father of a newborn baby to share in maternity leave, is on the agenda from 4.00 pm.

If you cruise the waterways like these people in on the Royal Canal, the Seanad may be worth a listen today. (Pic: Eamon Farrell/Photcall Ireland)

Everything else that’s happening in the Committees

The Good Friday Agreement is almost 16 years old but issues about it’s implementation are still being debated. Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will address Committee Room 3 on this from 10.30am.
Community and vocational education is the order of the day for the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. SOLAS, the authority formerly known as FÁS, is one of the groups making a submission.
Éamonn Meehan, executive director of Trócaire, will also be in Leinster House to tell the Committee of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the charity’s work in Room 2 from 2.30 pm.
The sale of IBRC’s mortgages is to be discussed by the Oireachtas Finance Committee in Room 4 at 2 pm. There’s a protest planned by IBRC Mortgage Holders Group due to take place outside Leinster House while the meeting is on.