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

The unusually curt two-day Dáil week will resume with Eamon Gilmore taking Leaders’ Questions at 10:30am, and a brief discussion on the rest of the day’s agenda at 11am.

At around 11:20am debate will resume on the Technical Group’s motion calling for the restoration of the Mobility Allowance which was controversially scrapped last month. A vote will be called just before 1pm.

When that’s done, debate again returns to legislation which revises the eligibility criteria for medical cards for the over 70s. They will need to earn less than €600 a week to qualify for the medical card; they will receive a free GP visit card if they don’t meet this threshold.

The day wraps up with discussion on four topical issues at 3:42pm, before Michael Noonan takes Questions to the Minister for Finance at 4:30pm.

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

SEANAD

Only one item on the Seanad’s agenda today, aside from the usual 75 minutes of ‘all and sundry’ debate (10:30am): members debate proposed amendments to the tax reforms of the Finance Bill 2013 (11:45am). When they’re done, the Bill is sent to the Áras for signature.

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

COMMITTEES

Five meetings today; here they are in the order of when they start…

• The Fisheries sub-committee resumes its hearings from yesterday, where it is briefed on aquaculture, inland fisheries and marine tourism, by departmental officials at 9:30am. (Watch here.)
• Also at 9:30am, the Health and Children committee resumes its hearings on the issue of childhood poverty with Moira O’Mara, the Director of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. (Watch here.)
• At 10am the Public Accounts Committee examines 2011 spending at the Department of Justice and Equality, with its secretary general Brian Purcell, and at the Office of the Chief State Solicitor with the CSS, Eileen Creedon. (Watch here.)
• Also at 10am, the Transport and Communications committee parks its hearings on social media to discuss eight new plans for EU-wide laws, on matters including network and information security, alternative fuels infrastructures, and railways. (Watch here.)
• The EU Affairs committee meets at 2:15pm to discuss the proposed European Youth Guarantee – where anyone not in the labour force or education will be given training and apprenticeship opportunities – with representatives from groups including the National Youth Council, the European Youth Forum and YouthReach. (Watch here.)

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