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Updated 1.30pm
GOVERNMENT TDS SHOULD be allowed a free vote on certain matters under a series of radical proposals to reform the Dáil that have been suggested by a backbench Fine Gael TD.
An internal document circulated among the Fine Gael parliamentary party this week has outlined a series of proposals that would radically alter the way in which Dáil business is conducted on a weekly basis with TDs allowed to vote against the government on certain issues.
The document, seen by TheJournal.ie, is authored by Dublin South-East TD Eoghan Murphy who has previously called for TDs to have a free vote on upcoming abortion legislation.
In the document he calls for a wider loosening of the party whip system to allow government TDs to vote against the coalition on certain matters as well calling for the reform of Leaders’ Questions to allow backbenchers to ask questions of the Taoiseach.
A Fine Gael spokesman said that the document has been discussed with senior figures and is in the spirit of the party’s 2011 general election manifesto which “contained a strong element of political reform” but noted the proposals are not currently party policy.
In the document Murphy criticises the current party whip system whereby any government TD who votes against the government position is automatically expelled from the parliamentary party. He says this “in essence means that a TD can never take an opposing view to the leadership”.
He says the party whip system should remain in place for important bills such as those concerning the Budget but calls for it to be relaxed in circumstances where TD might wish to introduce a “meaningful amendment” to legislation which the party leadership may not support.
He also proposes that the whip system be removed when:
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has explicitly ruled out a free vote on legislation for the X Case on abortion, despite calls from one junior minister.
At present any government TD who votes against the coalition is automatically expelled from the parliamentary party as has happened to Fine Gael’s Denis Naughten and a number of Labour TDs.
“The government can not be expected to draft the best possible legislation every time,” Murphy writes in the internal document saying that the “state and the country suffer” as a result of members being subject to the party whip “on every single decision”.
Murphy also proposes that Leaders’ Questions be taken by the Taoiseach once a week for 40 minutes and that each opposition leader be given 10 minutes to have as many exchanges as possible with the Taoiseach. A provision for backbenchers to ask questions of the Taoiseach should also be introduced.
He calls for reforms to the committee system including holding committee meetings outside the time when the Dáil is in session as well as time for committees to report to the Dáil chamber. Other proposed reforms include:
“A parliament should never be reduced to acting as a vehicle of the executive for rubber-stamping its decisions,” Murphy writes saying that the “vast majority” of what happens in the Dáil is an “aside to the main week-to-week business”.
He says that issues are often tackled outside of the chamber in committee and “to a greater extent” in private meetings with ministers, civil servants and special advisors.
Murphy claims that initial reforms introduced by the government in September 2011 such as Friday sittings, topical issues and extra sitting days have not been built upon.
A Fine Gael spokesperson said in response to a query about the document: “We have many young, ambitious and capable TDs and Senators, who are not currently office holders. They are anxious to see us pursue a strong reform agenda.
“While the proposals contained within this document are not currently party policy, we have a number of fora through which our members can raise new policy ideas, and stimulate debate.”
Eoghan Murphy did not wish to comment when contacted last night.
Updated 1.30pm: Following our story this morning, Eoghan Murphy has published the document ‘Reforming Dáil Éireann: A view from the backbenches’ in full. The 24-page document can be read here
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Another clear indication that the economy is improving and possibly at a faster pace than some believe
Hard to believe that Sin Fein still believe the economy is doomed and there are zero signs of a recovery.
It’s absolutely key now that developers get the credit needed to add to the supply side and therefore avoid over heating of the market. Govt have a job here in my view
Economic recovery is bad news for SF.
They will run the country down at every opportunity.
Can you imagine their horror in 2016, budget back in surplus & economy growing again.
It’s another property bubble.
It’s absolutely crazy in the residential market. I signed a 12 month lease on a 1 bed flat in the city centre last week but it took me a few weeks to find it.
They (landlords and letting agents) are actually having viewing nights, where 10 or more people view the kips at once.
My rabbit hutch was €300 cheaper 12 months ago.. its a sign paddy greed is setting in yet again and we know what happened last time.
a rebound is inevitable, but there are still a lot of vacant buildings about.
So, the “to let” signs are fake then?
Dublin is too overcrowded and concentrated, there should be greater incentives for companies set up base outside of Dublin
Dublin is not in the slightest bit overcrowded.
There are thousands of acres of derelict brown & green field sites within the M50.
Amazing how our economy is doing so well according to the government, estate agents and landlords yet the ECB warned our politicians our economy is not doing well at all.
We have one of the biggest debts of any country in the world. sinn feinn are not being negative about the economy there being realistic. We cant afford another little building bubble. It would break ireland totally. And the sooner most people in this country realise that the better.
i wonder where will families go when renting a 2 beds will cost 1600 per month ( give it another 6 months)
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