Poor performance: Dáil should do better
If a report card were to be prepared for the Dáil as it enters its three month summer recess on 1 July, it would read "poor performance should do better". During the 93 sitting days in this Dáil year (from 29 September to 1 July), a total of 39 bills were proposed and 18 were enacted. This is in sharp contrast to the previous Dáil year where 61 bills were proposed and 41 were passed into Acts.
If a report card were to be prepared for the Dáil as it enters its three month summer recess on 1 July, it would read "poor performance – should do better". During the 93 sitting days in this Dáil year (from 29 September to 1 July), a total of 39 bills were proposed and 18 were enacted. This is in sharp contrast to the previous Dáil year where 61 bills were proposed and 41 were passed into Acts.
The House of Commons record to date shows that it has had 89 sittings and it is not due to adjourn for the summer until 21 July, with a return date set for 10 October. In the first four months of this year, 20 acts have been passed by the British Parliament.
The Government has had a bumpy ride in the Dáil over the past nine months. Health has continued to dominate the agenda with overcrowding in Accident and Emergency units nationwide occupying Dáil attention for most of the winter months.
The illegal charging of older people for long-stay care sharpened the focus on the Department of Health. Mary Harney, Health Minister, was accused by the opposition of rushing the Health Amendment (No 2) Bill through the house last December in an attempt to legalise payments for long-term care for older people.
The Bill was referred by President Mary McAleese to the Supreme Court for a ruling. It concluded that the Bill was unconstitutional and the deducting of money from older peoples pensions was unlawful. Following an investigation by John Travers into the affair, his report revealed that the illegal charging had gone on for over 30 years and it had been drawn to the attention of the Department of Health many times over this period. The recriminations about who knew what, who read what and who saw what file are still ongoing.
The Disability Bill is continuing to cause the government headaches. Disability groups oppose the current legislation as it does not reflect their rights to access state services and supports. Many of the groups have pulled out of consultations with the Government because they see the proposed legislation as flawed.
Requests to extend the Dáil sitting time into the month of July were made by opposition parties over the past two weeks, so that the 138 amendments to the Garda Bill could be debated, but this was refused. There has been widespread criticism of the two days afforded to debate the substantial amendments and concern that the amendments do not go far enough to address the issues raised by Justice Morris who reported for the second time on corruption within the Garda Síochána.
Outside of controversies over legislation, there have been a number of other highlights in this Dáil year. The controversy that dogged Martin Cullen, Minister for Transport, over his hiring of public relations consultant, Monica Leech and the cost involved. The emergence of Bertie Ahern as a socialist caused much mirth among commentators. Joe Higgins, the only socialist TD in the Dáil who has played a blinder on highlighting worker abuses throughout the year, accused the Taoiseach of robbing his wardrobe and stealing his red jacket.
Cost over-runs on major infrastructural projects provided meat for opposition deputies throughout the Dáil year. It is fitting that the Dáil is closing in the week it has come to light that the €62 million National Acquatic Centre is leaking water as a result of structural deficiencies.
Dai