WHAT’S GOING ON in Leinster House?

Every day the Dáil and Seanad are sitting, TheJournal.ie brings you the most comprehensive guide to the what our lawmakers are getting up to in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

So, here is what we can expect to be happening in the Dáil, Seanad and Committee rooms today…

5 things we’ll be keeping an eye on

• Dáil: Leaders’ Questions – The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will get his first outing of the new term when he takes questions from Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group. Budget matters are sure to dominate at 10.30am.
• Dáil: Mortgage Arrears – At 11.11am the debate on Fianna Fáil’s Private Members’ motion is due to conclude with 90 minutes’ of debate followed by a vote. It will be interesting to see if any of the Reform Alliance members back the opposition party.
• Committees: IDA Ireland – The Public Accounts Committee hears from the IDA Ireland on its annual report and accounts for last year with CEO Barry O’Leary taking questions on jobs, corporation tax and other matters in Committee Room 1 from 10am.
• Seanad: Turf cutting – The Arts and Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan will be taking questions on the contentious issue of turf cutting at 2pm. While Ming Flanagan won’t be there to harangue him there are sure to be some vocal senators.
• Committees: EU Affairs – The newly-appointed Minister of State for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, will get his first chance to outline his priorities to TDs and Senators in Committee Room 3 from 2pm.

Everything else that’s happening in the Dáil

• After Leaders’ Questions, TDs get down to the Order of Business at 10.51am or perhaps a bit later.
• Then there is a motion on the Commencement Order for the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013 – the bill to theoretically set-up a banking inquiry – which will be without debate.
• The Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012 is then on the agenda. This bill concerns expanding the remit of the Science Foundation to conduct applied research.
• TDs continue discussions on the Gas Regulation Bill 2013 after that.
• Then there are Topical Issues at 3.42pm.
• The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald takes questions on her portfolio at 4.30pm before the Dáil adjourns for the weekend at 5.45pm

Still with us? Here’s a video of a cat flushing a toilet as your reward:

YouTube: dragonzice1

Everything else that’s happening in the Seanad

• Senators kick start their day with the Order of Business at 10.30am where anything and everything will be discussed.
• At 11.45 am there are statements on the European Parliament and Council directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.
• After statements on turf cutting, Matters on the Adjournment will be discussed, before the Seanad goes home for the weekend.

Everything else that’s happening in the Committees

• A sub-commitee of the Oireachtas Finance Committee meets in Committee Room 4 at 10am to discuss a motion regarding the double taxation agreement with Ukraine and and a tax Information Agreement with Dominica. Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes will be answering for the government.
• The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language and Related Matters, er, sub-committee meets in Committee Room 4 at 2.15pm to hear from Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill and Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh from Chonradh na Gaeilge.

Here’s how to watch what’s going on Leinster House today

• Dáil Éireann
• Seanad Éireann
• Committee Room 1
• Committee Room 2
• Committee Room 3
• Committee Room 4
• To access streams on iOS, click here

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