Public petitions system opens

Members of the public can now put their concerns about matters of public policy directly to an Oireachtas committee through a newly established petitions system.

The Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions will assess the submissions and examine the issues raised with a view to finding ways to improve the delivery of public services.

Admissible petitions will relate to matters on which the Oireachtas has the power to act.

The committee can refer a petition to another Oireachtas committee if it feels there is a greater level of expertise available elsewhere, to the Ombudsman or a relevant public body or organisation dealing with redress in that area.

Petitioners, members of public bodies related to the motion and relevant Government officials and ministers may be invited to give evidence to the committee during its deliberations on the subject.

At the end of its consideration of the matter, the committee may produce a report setting out its findings and making recommendations to the Government or relevant public body.  This report may then be debated in the Dáil or Seanad.

Committee chairman Peadar Tóibín TD (Sinn Féin) said the system represented an important democratic development. Mr Tóibín said he expected issues both “micro and macro” to be raised through the system.

“This is an important innovation in parliamentary democracy,” he said. “For the first time in the 93-year history of the Oireachtas citizens will have a direct route to influence the parliamentary agenda.

“Those best qualified to comment on the effectiveness of our public services are its users. Therefore, the experiences of our citizens will now be placed at the centre of the development and delivery of effective public services.”

Admissible petitions cannot relate to matters where court proceedings have been initiated; name specific individuals; contain defamatory language or be frivolous or vexatious in nature.

Individuals submitting petitions must show they have already taken steps to resolve the issue raised in their petition, such as raising it with the Ombudsman or relevant public body or relevant Government department.

Petitions can be submitted online via petitions.oireachtas.ie or by post to the clerk of the committee.