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

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

DÁIL

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore steps in for Leaders’ Questions at 10.30am with amendments on the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill 2011 on the table shortly after 11am, designed to strengthen the regulation of financial services here. Did you read what the governor of the Central Bank, Patrick Honohan, told a German newspaper this week about  how “fooled” the regulators were by Anglo Irish execs? You should – click here.

Legislation which will enable certain Budget 2013 measures relating to charging private inpatients in public hospitals, increasing the daily charge for public inpatients in acute hospitals and in “asset contribution” for those in nursing home care reaches its second stage today.

By 5pm, we’ll be on to topical issues and then at 5.48pm, Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald will be answering questions in the chamber.

SEANAD

Pat Rabbitte, in his capacity at the head of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will be listening to senators’ views on the future of the post office. Postcodes all round. That starts at 11.45am after order of business – when senators can talk about whatever they fancy – has been taken care of.

At 1.30pm, the second stage of discussing the legislation putting the abolition of the Seanad to the people in an autumn referendum will be resumed with mournful statements from sitting senators. By 3.30pm senators must move on to what are called Matters of Adjournment – four matters chosen by the Cathaoirleach from those submitted by senators that day and which are of topical concern to them. Each chosen senator has four minutes to get his piece across.

COMMITTEES

• The Health committee in Room 2 at 9.30am will be hearing about transgender health issues from a range of experts and interested parties – you can see the list here (under committee meetings, Thursday). (Watch here.)
• At 10am in Room 1, the Public Accounts committee has a lot to get cracking on. It will be looking at the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund. You what? It was set up some seven years ago to intervene in EU member states and support workers in cases where more than 1,000 redundancies are called in a given company. Naturally, it has become an important consideration for Ireland in recent years. Also watch out for a discussion of financial statements from the outgoing FÁS in 2012 from this committee and from the National Training Fund for 2011. The Director General of FÁS, Paul O’Toole, will be on hand. (Watch here.)
• At 1pm in Room 2, the Health sub-committee with be resuming its voting and recommendations on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013.  (Watch here.)

Explainer: How does a Bill become a law?

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