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POLITICIANS ARE TO be banned from making phone calls in the Dáil chamber – but will still be allowed to send text messages and use social media, under proposed new rules.
The Dáil’s committee on procedures, which makes decisions on the rules of the Dáil, has agreed to amend the Standing Orders of the House to prevent TDs from taking or making calls while in the chamber (though it might surprise some this hasn’t always been the case).
It is understood that a number of complaints were made to the Ceann Comhairle Sean Ó’Fhearghaíl’s office by members of the public – with some making representations that politicians were not being attentive enough during some debates because they were using their mobile phones.
One TD told TheJournal.ie that there are a few politicians that take calls while in the Dáil, with some being “very loud” as they make their way out of the chamber while having a “full-blown conversation for all to hear”.
The same TD highlighted that there is an increase in the number of first-time TDs in the Dáil since the last election, who might need reminding about decorum in the chamber.
Blocking the phone signal
Legal advice about blocking the mobile phone signal in the chamber was also provided to the committee, but it has been deemed unworkable as it would impact areas outside the Dáil chamber, with a possibility that it would also affect the broadcasting equipment.
This is not the first time politicians using their phones in the Dáil has been highlighted.
In 2013, the Ceann Comhairle at the time, Seán Barrett, instructed members of the Oireachtas to turn off their phones or put them in flight mode when entering the House.
This warning was given due to mobile signals interfering with live feeds from the Oireachtas, with such interference rendering the recordings useless for radio and television broadcasts.
The proposed new rules will permit TDs to make and take calls in the lobby areas when votes are being taken.
There is to be no ban on sending text messages or using social media in the Dáil, though members of the media are still not permitted to use their phone in any capacity in the chamber.
Members also agreed to amend Standing Orders to prevent TDs from wearing clothing with slogans, campaigning messages, or images of any kind on garments.
It’s understood that some members of the public complained about the wearing of Repeal the Eighth Amendment jumpers in the Dáil – “but not as many as would have been expected”, said one TD.
Other complaints about the dress code included the wearing of a football jersey in the chamber by one TD.
The rule changes are to be voted on by the Dáil when it returns in September.
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I be more worried about their victims’ waiting times
Who is caring for/monitoring that woman while she is on bail?
Waiting time for mental health services for the general public is hugely long, why should prisoners be any different?
This government couldn’t care less about the mental health of its people.
@Carm(Orange Vampire): would you really want dangerous people becoming more unwell and even more dangerous! Stemming the progression at the earliest onset is in everyone’s best interest, prisoners and ours
@Jason: most prisoners are on a trajectory that the basic help provided through the prison services is not going to help long term
@Carm(Orange Vampire):
How is every single thing in this country a disaster/over crowded/under funded/long waiting lists etc etc?
Why can nothing run smoothly?
A great little country for American multinationals and hedge funds and a lousy one for its citizens.
@Ronaldo Blanc: hear hear
@Ronaldo Blanc: If these American multinationals were not here we would still be going around on horse and cart and you would have nuns and priests running run down old dilapidated hellholes that nobody would dare visit…..who do you think are paying the bills?, the farmers lol…..kop on and think just a little before you point the finger. Its our rotten government that have the country a mess, them and their public service buddies and private sector criminals creaming every last drop out of the place….
@Ronaldo Blanc: It’s citizens are responsible for the mess they’re in because it’s citizens continue to vote the same degenerates in to govern them. People have to take responsibility for their actions and Irish voters are responsible for voting in the government. You can’t blame corrupt politicians for being corrupt when corruption is all they have demonstrated since the state came into existence. The blame falls squarely on the voters who continually put them in a position to exercise their corrupt ways and “cream every last drop out of the place”. So if Irish people want someone to blame for their woes they need only look in a mirror.
As for American multinationals; since we have no indigenous industry worth a mention we need to generate income some other way and this means prostituting ourselves out to whoever is willing to pay. Thanks to our corrupt politicians this has historically been American multinationals.
It’s not ok to not be ok in Ireland because Ireland inc can’t help you
@Tony Henry: Mental health is way down the government’s list of priorities and they don’t give a flying f***. Ask any parent of a child on a waiting list for a MH service and you’ll see. They just don’t care.
Would like to take issue with your headline of “prisoners with severe conditions” these are people with Mental Heath issues in dire need of Help where they should be classed as “patients” where the services they need are been Starved of resources
@Eamonn Tierney: while they are in prison they are still prisoners. If they move to the CMH they then become patients.
How is every single thing in this country a disaster/over crowded/under funded/long waiting lists etc etc?
Why can nothing run smoothly?
Typical Banana Republic Of Ireland!
An absolute joke of a country!
When the poor, the mentally ill and former prisoners begin to vote regularly, things will change. Politicians feel no pressure to protect these groups.
I was brought up very close to Dundrum ‘Asylum’ as it was called back then. It was a dark dank place to visit and a dangerous one. It was done up and improved but there is always the risk of a sudden burst of violence and some of these people are so ill, that they will kill. Hence not the nicest of environments to work in.
I believe that many political prisioners are psycopaths just as laypeople who are killers are and I believe in Ireland that Mental illness is way down the list of priorities infact a lot of funding has been taken away from Day Centres and call in centres which are preventative, but our Govt is longterm stupid and short term wise.
have your say