WHAT’S GOING ON in Leinster House?

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

• Dáil: Leaders’ Questions – The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is due to take questions from members of the opposition with the looming Budget very likely to be raised at 10.30am.
• Dáil: Women in the Home – The Constitutional Convention report on the article concerning the ‘Women in the Home’ is due to be debated in the late morning. Alan Shatter will be outlining the government’s position.
• Committees: Children’s Minister – Frances Fitzgerald takes questions from TDs and Senators about the latest issues affecting her department in Committee Room 2 today. Expect the RCNI report launched yesterday to be raised.

Everything else that’s happening in the Dáil

• After Leaders’ Questions TDs get down to the Order of Business at around 10.51am or probably a little later.
• Then there is a motion regarding standing orders. After the Constitutional Convention report is concluded the second stage debate on the bill to establish a new DNA database continues before the second stage of the Forestry Bill debate continues.
• At 3.42pm it’s Topical Issues before Jobs Minister Richard Bruton answers questions on his portfolio at 4.30pm.
• The Dáil adjourns for the day at 5.45pm.

Everything else that’s happening in the Seanad

• The Seanad is not in session today

Everything else that’s happening in the Committees

• Before it hears from the Children’s Minister, the Health and Children Committee meets in Committee Room 2 at 9.30am to scrutinise two EU legislative proposals.
• At 10am the Public Accounts meets in Committee Room 1 to discuss its own business before it holds a session about the Comptroller and Auditor General’s education audits with the Secretary General of the Department of Education, Tom Boland from the Higher Education Authority, and Ruairdhrí Neavyn from Waterford Institute of Technology.
• The European Union Affairs Committees holds an interesting looking session with Dr Gavin Barrett from the UCD School of Law on the evolving role of the Oireachtas in European Affairs in Committee Room 3 at 2pm.

Here’s how to watch what’s going on in Leinster House today

• Dáil Éireann
• Seanad Éireann
• Committee Room 1
• Committee Room 2
• Committee Room 3
• Committee Room 4
• To access streams on iOS, click here

Explainer: How does a Bill become a law?

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More