The chairpersons of some of the Dail Committees have expressed concern at the slowdown in work due to the ongoing Public Accounts Committee DIRT tax hearings.
The committees were asked recently not to meet in September, as there was a shortage of space in Kildare House due to the DIRT hearings. There is also a shortage of staff to service the committee due to the DIRT hearings. The chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, Mr Batt O'Keffee, said yesterday if the PAC hearings did not finish on schedule by the end of September, important work of other committees could be hindered.
While the Dail chamber and another room in Leinster House have been made available to committees anxious to meet in September, Mr O'Keeffe said this is not satisfactory.
Many of the committees have important legislation to consider. The Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Right has the Equal Status Bill to debate.
The chairman of that committee, Mr Eoin Ryan, said yesterday the availability of space to the various committees would have to be reviewed if the DIRT hearings did not finish by the end of September. The three rooms normally used by the various committees in Kildare House are occupied by the DIRT hearings.