President raises concerns over influx of legislation

Michael D Higgins

Two Oireachtas committees are being convened to address the concerns raised by the president as he said an “overwhelming number of bills” were presented for his consideration.

Mr Higgins raised his concerns in a letter to the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, and the Department of the Taoiseach.

His letter stated: “For example, in the three weeks since the beginning of July I have been asked to consider 19 separate bills. Nine were presented on one day, sharing a requirement to be considered and signed in the same seven day period.”

He highlighted that in the six months prior he had only been given 13 bills to consider. He raised concerns that his office receives an influx of bills in the final weeks before a recess.

He wrote: “It would strike me, as President and from my years as a parliamentarian, that there must be a more orderly approach to arranging the legislative timetable that allows all legislators the time to consider and contribute to proposals before the Oireachtas without unnecessary time constraints and an unseemly end-of-term hast to have Bills concluded.

“Having this vital work concentrated into four weeks of the year strikes me as being less than ideal and, I believe, unnecessary.”

Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the Ceann Comhairle, told The Irish Times that the Dáil’s Business Committee and the Seanad’s Committee on Procedures would meet on Friday to consider the letter, and actions open to the Oireachtas to consider.