THE DÁIL returns today for a session that will be dominated by legislation connected with the EU-IMF programme and two referendums due to be held on October 27th.
After the shortest recess for a number of years, Government sources are predicting that a record number of Bills will be passed between now and Christmas, with longer Dáil hours and more sitting days.
An immediate priority will be legislation to give effect to the European Council agreement of July 21st which is designed to create a bigger bailout fund to deal with potential problems in Spain and Italy. Decisions affecting Ireland’s own EU-IMF programme will also feature largely in the coming Dáil session.
Legislation designed to create more competition in the legal and medical professions is due to be debated before the end of the month in line with the commitments given in the programme.
As part of the memorandum of understanding between Ireland, the IMF and the EU, action to reform the legal, medical and pharmaceutical professions to make them more competitive and cost-effective must take place by the end of the third fiscal quarter, which comes at the end of the month.
Later in the session there will also be legislation to give effect to decisions expected to be taken by Cabinet today to provide for the sale of at least €2 billion worth of State assets.
The EU-IMF programme targets the energy sector in particular for partial privatisation in the drive to reduce the Government debt and encourage competition in the sector.
The Government’s plans under the New Era programme to set up State water, telecoms and alternative-energy companies will also require legislation in this session.
The budget will dominate proceeding, with the Government’s four-year “medium-term fiscal consolidation plan” due shortly, as well as publication of the Coalition’s spending review.
Both these documents will feed into the budget, but are likely to generate debate in the Dáil immediately after their publication.
The two referendums due at the end of October will feature in the Dáil this week with the publication of the referendum Bills.
One of the referendums will enable the pay of judges to be reduced in line with any future reductions in public service pay, while the other will give Oireachtas committees the power to hold inquiries that can make findings of fact.
If the referendums are approved by the people on October 27th, detailed legislation will be required to give effect to both decisions.
Other issues likely to feature on the agenda include the Vatican’s rejection of accusations of interference in the Cloyne inquiry which will be the subject of debate.
The Dáil will mark International Day of Democracy tomorrow with statements in the Chamber and a seminar in Leinster House.
In 2007 the United Nations declared September 15th International Day of Democracy to encourage the promotion and consolidation of democracy worldwide.
“The International Day of Democracy is meant both to celebrate democracy and to serve as a reminder that the need to promote and protect democracy is as urgent now as ever,” said Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, who pointed to the “Arab spring” as a demonstration that people want free and democratic leadership.
“Here we have been lucky that the Irish parliament has remained independent, free and democratic since the foundation of the State, and we should not take that for granted. In fact, we should celebrate the fact that we have always retained the freedom to elect our own parliament,” said Mr Barrett.