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

• Following reports he broke the law by revealing on Prime Time that Deputy Mick Wallace had been cautioned for using a mobile phone while driving, Justice Minister Alan Shatter will be answering questions at 2.30 pm.
• Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be in the Opposition’s firing line during Leaders’ Questions at 4.33 pm.
• The much-publicised banking inquiry will be discussed following the Order of Business at 4.54 pm. 

Everything else that’s happening in the Dáil

• Topical Issues, where everything and anything could come up, will be discussed at 3.45 pm.
• Debate on the Children First Bill 2014 will resume after the banking inquiry discussion.
• During Private Members Business at 7.30 pm, Fianna Fáil’s motion on water charges will be discussed for a second day. It seeks to engage debate on the “unsustainable burden of a water tax” being placed on the public.
• The Dáil will adjourn at 9 pm. 

Everything happening in the Seanad

• The Order of Business will be read at 1.30 pm.
• A Bill that aims to ease the regulatory burden on co-operative societies and make them eligible for examinership will be debated at 2.45 pm.
• During Private Members Business at 4 pm, the Seanad will explore how the government can enable people with disabilities “to live fully inclusive, active and independent lives”.
• Matters on the Adjournment will be discussed at 6 pm.

Everything else that’s happening in the Committees

• Room 4 at 12 pm: The Environment Committee will resume their discussion on homelessness, with submissions by representatives of the Peter McVerry Trust, the Irish Council for Social Housing, Roscommon County Council, Limerick City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
• Room 3 at 1 pm: Representatives from the Carers Association and WALK will address the Education Committee on supports and services for children and young people with disabilities.
• Room 2 at 2 pm: Representatives from the Rape Crisis Network, the Law Society of Ireland, Facing Forward and the Restorative Practice Strategic Forum will meet with the Justice Committee to discuss the Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill.
• Room 1 at 2.30 pm: Members of Christian Aid Ireland will brief the Foreign Affairs Committee on their work in Angola and Sierra Leone.
• Room 4 at 2.30 pm: Martin Nolan, Chief Executive of Bus Éireann, will come before the Transport Committee to discuss the procurement process for the awarding of contracts under the School Transport Scheme.
• Room 3 at 4.30 pm: the Public Service Oversight Committee will debate public petitions relating to the legalisation of cannabis, reckless lending and road maintenance in Cork.

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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