WHAT’S GOING ON in Leinster House?

Every day the Dáil and Seanad are sitting, TheJournal.ie brings you the most comprehensive guide to 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…

3 things we’ll be keeping an eye on

• As the water charges row between the coalition parties rumbles on, Environment Minister Phil Hogan will be fielding questions at 9.30 am today.
• Despite it being a short week in Leinster House, it’s been a busy one that has seen the announcement that a banking inquiry will be established next week. Will the subject come up when Taoiseach Enda Kenny is in the firing line during Leaders’ Questions at 12 pm?
• Debate on the Technical Group’s motion on social housing and homelessness will resume at 12.41 pm.

Everything else that’s happening in the Dáil

• The Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013 will be up for discussion at 10.45 am. The proposed legislation looks at allowing gardaí to take DNA samples from people suspected of certain criminal offences for forensic testing.
• The Order of Business will be read at 12.21 pm.
• Following the debate on homelessness, the Children First Bill 2014 will be discussed. The Bill will introduce stricter protocols surrounding the safeguarding of children.
• Topical Issues will be discussed at 4.42 pm, where a range of subjects will come up.
• The Dáil will adjourn at 5.30 pm.

Everything happening in the Seanad

The Seanad is adjourned until 7 May. (Pic: Tumbleweed via GifBin.com)

Everything else that’s happening in the Committees

• The Public Accounts Committee will be examining how the Department of Social Protection spends its money in Room 1 at 10 am.
• Health Minister James Reilly will appear before the Health Committee to discuss the Health Identifiers Bill 2013 in Room 2 at 10 am. The legislation will result in every patient and health service provider being given their own unique health identifier number that will work across both the public and private health service.

Here’s how to watch what’s going on in 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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