AN OVERHAUL of the Dáil and Seanad including substantial cuts in the number of Ministers of State and Oireachtas committees has been proposed by Fine Gael for inclusion in the budget on April 7th.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny unveiled the party proposals yesterday and said that if the Government failed to implement them he would do so immediately if elected to government.
Under the Fine Gael plan the number of junior ministers would be cut from 20 to 12 and the number of Joint Oireachtas committees from 19 to nine, with the abolition of all extra payments for committee positions. Ministerial pensions would not longer be paid to sitting TDs and the salaries of senior civil servants would be capped.
“The political system has to wake up and realise that it has to radically change the way it does its work . . . We want to show that the members of the Oireachtas are prepared to play their part in response to the current crisis facing the country,” Mr Kenny said .
He added that Fine Gael would be producing further policy proposals on the economy and public services over the coming weeks but before that it was essential that political leaders set out the type of changes they would make in their own work environment.
“That is why I am happy to set out today the changes that Fine Gael would make to the way the Dáil and Seanad operate, that can be included in the April budget and which we would implement if we were elected to Government.”
He added that the Fine Gael package would save between €35 million to €40 million over the lifetime of a Dáil.
The party’s Environment spokesman, Phil Hogan, who prepared a report on Oireachtas reform, on which the plan is based, said it was about making Government work more effectively and most cost-effectively.
He said the reduction in the number of committees and the abolition of the array of allowances that go with the current system was essential.
“It should be an honour to represent the people as a committee chair of vice-chair and no extra payment should be involved,” he said.
Some of the other Fine Gael proposals include:
* Extending the Dáil sitting times from three to four days a week;
* Reducing ministerial staff allocated to work on constituency matters to two;
* An end to ministerial pensions for serving TDs or senators;
* A reduction in the salaries paid to senior civil servants;
* Direct elections for 20 of the 60 members of the Seanad with all citizens having a vote;
* Six senators to be elected by all third level graduates;
* No special payments to senior management in the civil service or state agencies arising from retirements due to failure to discharge their remit;
* Extension of Dáil committee power to hold people to account.
The Fine Gael proposals also involve the reinstatement of Freedom of Information legislation, as originally enacted, to help ensure a more transparent form of Government.
The establishment of an electoral commission, which would take over the electoral functions of the Standards in Public Office Commission, is a further proposal. The commission would supervise the conduct of elections, registration of voters, registration of political parties, monitoring of election expenditure, determination of constituency boundaries and the number of representatives in the Dáil and Seanad.
The proposed commission would advise the minister for the environment on electoral reforms. It would set the date for elections unless the Dáil is dissolved.
Key points
Extend the sitting time of the Dáil from three days per week to four.
Reduce the number of Ministers of State by eight (from 20 to 12). End ministerial pensions for sitting members of the Dáil and Seanad.
Direct elections for one-third of Senators (20) by all citizens every five years, with six Senators elected by all third-level graduates.
Reduce Oireachtas committees by 10 (from 19 to 9).
End the €20,000 annual allowance for chairmen of Oireachtas committees.
Reduce ministerial staff working on constituency issues to two.
Extend powers of the Freedom of Information Act by reinstating the original FOI legislation.
Establish an electoral commission to run elections, monitor spending and register voters.
Reduce and cap the pay of senior civil servants. No special payments to be made to senior management in the Civil Service or agencies arising from failure to discharge their remit.
Increase the powers of the Seanad and introduce a monthly Senate address by the Taoiseach.
Extend the power of the Dáil committees to hold people to account.