Fianna Fail uses false claims to advance anti-false news bill. Re Strategic Communications Unit and the Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017

James Lawless Fianna Fail TD has initiated a bill related to online advertising and multiple accounts transparency. Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017 6th December 2017.

3 (2) Online political advertising shall not be paid for from monies provided out of the
Central Fund or the growing produce thereof or from monies voted by the Oireachtas.

There are other questions about this and bill the bots partis based on arbitary number, I favour the ad transparency part, but Fianna Fail have said a section of the bill is aimed at the governments use of Strategic Communications Unit's advertising accusing it of only being for one party in government.

12 December 2017 James Lawless held a press conference for the bill with Niamh Smith TD in which (at 7:50) he said,

"we haven’t yet seen any Independent ministers featuring in the adverts, which I think is interesting"

The Rugby World Cup bid ad featuring Independent TD Minister Tourism and Sport, which was produced by Merrionstreet.ie/SCU (2017-11-14).

Ireland at its Best - Rugby World Cup Bid #Ireland2023 Sep 23, 2017

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017 13 December 2017

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Lawless's Bill seeks to target bots, which I have dealt with in what I have already said, but also the strategic communications unit, which is an absolute disgrace. Let us be clear that the Minister, Deputy Naughten, is not getting a slice of the advertising pie because he is not in Fine Gael. The broad shoulders of Fine Gael have elbowed into all these paid ads. The latest one, promoting Deputy Leo Varadkar and Deputy Paschal Donohoe in his own constituency, had 400,000 viewers and was paid for entirely by all the taxpayers of Ireland. This is wrong and should be illegal. I have already put it to my party that we should introduce legislation to ban any Oireachtas Member from appearing in paid advertising by Government Departments unless it is required by law, such as in the case of a signature on an official order. I refer primarily to Ministers because they are the only ones to have done this so far. It is utterly wrong and disgraceful that the €5 million from the strategic communications unit, SCU, is being turned into paid Facebook ads for Fine Gael and the Minister, Deputy Naughten, should be clear that they are only for Fine Gael Members. While Dublin traffic was at a standstill on Monday morning because of the Luas works, a Facebook video promoting Deputies Leo Varadkar and Paschal Donohoe and the Luas was on air for well over 24 hours.

Why doesn't he mention Independent TD and Minister for Transport Shane Ross who is in the video?


Luas Cross City Launches Dec 9, 2017 Merrionstreet.ie Twitter vesion

Thomas Byrne must also have seen the Rugby World Cup ad he asked a parliamentary Question about it on 28th November 2017.


Why are Fianna Fail TDs making false claims about who appear in the video/ads?

I asked them multiple times and they won't reply.

If you were going to criticise the Strategic Communication Unit in the midst of an anti-fake news bill would you not want to do it on an accurate basis?

Why is media repeating these claims without checking them.*

I asked them multiple times and they won't reply.

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage Vote passed, Labour, Greens, Social Democrats and members of Independents4Change voted for the bill without even speaking on it. Brian Stanley Sinn Fein TD, also made a similar claim about not seeing any Independent ministers in the video/ads.

I do not see the Independents figuring prominently in the advertising campaign overseen by the unit. In fact, I have not seen an Independent feature in it yet.

Media repeating false claims without checking them*
Fianna Fáil TD James Lawless wants legislation to crack down on fake Twitter bots Elaine Loughlin Irish Examiner December 13, 2017

"we haven’t yet seen any Independent ministers featuring in the adverts, which I think is interesting"

the article also originally said,

“If the same thing was done on radio it would actually be illegal under Section 38 of the Broadcasting Acts”

Which section 38 of which Broadcating Act? Section 38 of the 2009 and consolidated Broadcasting Acts don't seem relevant.

James Lawless TD told me he was refferring to Section 41(3) of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 not section 38.

(3) A broadcaster shall not broadcast an advertisement which is directed towards a political end or which has any relation to an industrial dispute.

Update: now stealth corrected :/ now what about his other claim about no Independent Ministers being featured?
Fianna Fáil proposes new law to regulate political advertising Sarah Bardon Irish Times December 12th 2017

Mr Lawless said the unit was promoting individual Ministers but not Independent Ministers.

While paraphrasing Irish Times made the same false claim.

Links

Based on politics.ie thread
Department of Taoiseach Management Advisory Committee Monday, 11 September 2017
Taoiseach’s Strategic Communications Unit warned of dangers of the “parliamentary bubble” in briefing by UK experts Ken Foxe December 19, 2017
Civil servants in Varadkar spin unit are warned against 'politics'Jody Corcoran and Philip Ryan November 19 2017 - Independent.ie
Government of Ireland research and survey tender September 19th 2017
Howlin calls on SIPO to give advice on ballooning budget for spin unit Brendan Howlin 12 October 2017

Watch: 'This is bigger than sport, it's Ireland as a nation' - Brilliant new RWC 2023 video ahead of bid September 24 2017 Independent.ie

Election candidates who put TD on their poster after the dissolution of the Dail

Many political candidates use the suffix TD after their name on posters even though posters are only allowed to put up after the disollution of the Dail when they are no longer TDs.

No authority wants to regulate this.


via irishelectionliterature.com


Lobbying Register

When an election is called, TDs cease to be TDs

No mention of it in the Dissolution guidelines.

No mention of it in electoral law, Electoral Act 1992

No mention of it in the Standard in Public office commission election guidelines.

SIPO told me its nothing to do with them. The oireachtas Commission didn't respond to my queries on it.

House of Oireachtas Commission refers to them as 'Outgoing Deputies' in an old Use of facilities guideline.

Putting up posters in Ballina today - all systems go for Election on 26th of February @FineGaelMayo @FineGael pic.twitter.com/6yOW9gUeXr

— Michelle Mulherin (@MulherinFG) February 3, 2016

There are laws about lying about a candidate during an election but no about candidates lying.

This post is based on politics.ie thread

Irish General election online campaign fundraising

Im going to try and keep an eye on online general election campaign fundraising as I did in the 2016 election

Its pity the www.icrowdfund.ie and its archive is gone, it merged with iFundraise.ie.

The only other fundraising done recently is via Nationbuilder or gogetfunding. And Atheist Ireland using "generosity from indiegogo" to fund FOI for their secular schools campaigning.

The most popular last year a apart from icrowdfund was gofundme.

There is also Indiegogo.

Irish News Media Corrections Policies

Independent: corrections@independent.ie Corrections usually seperate notices not linked to article. Has press Council Notice and corrections notice.
Irish Times Has readersrep@irishtimes.com which occasionally responds to readers concerns but they don't advertise it. Has Press Council notice but no corrections policy note in paper. Mostly stealth corrections. [Time stamp shows update]
Times Ireland: feedback@thetimes.co.uk Corrections below articles and on Corrections Page Editorial Complaints Info page with complaints policy mostly refering to UK edition.
Irish Examiner: feedback@examiner.ie Has Press Council notice but no corrections policy note in paper.
theJournal.ie: Corrections form at bottom of each article. Corrections below articles.
RTE.ie News newsonline@rte.ie intermittingly replies to readers concerns.
Irish Daily Mail: Doesn't have a full Irish website. corrections@dailymail.ie Corrections usually appear on top of page 2. Has both Corrections and Press Council notice.
Sunday Business Post: Email info@sbpost.ie and editor@sbpost.ie {Need to buy paper version to check]
Irish Mirror: Complaints Policy Corrections and Clarifications. Part of the Trust Project, What it means for readers

If you notice a factual inaccuracy on the www.irishmirror.ie website that does not directly relate to you, please email ftr@mirror.co.uk

Irish Sun: Editorial complaints Corrections and Clarifications Page UK only? Has Press Council notice but no corrections policy note in paper.
Irish Daily Star Doesn't have a full website. No corrections policy note in paper.

Most papers have a Press Council notice few have their own corrections notice.

Corrections...	Notice	Email	Steatlh	Response*	Page
Independent	Yes	Yes	?	Poor	No
Irish Times	No	Yes	Yes	Poor	No
RTE.ie	No	no	Yes	Poor	No
Times Ireland	Yes	Yes	No	Poor	UK?
Irish Examiner	No	Yes	Yes	Poor	No
TheJournal	Yes	Form	No	-	No
Irish Daily Mail	Yes	Yes	-	?	No
Sunday Business Post	?	No	-	?	No
Irish Mirror	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes?
Irish Sun	No	No	?	?	Yes
Irish Daily Star	No	No	-	?	No

*In my opinion.

The Trust Project An international consortium of news organizations collaborating to use transparency to build a more trustworthy and trusted press.
Trust Project Indicators

The eight core indicators are:

Best Practices: What Are Your Standards? Who funds the news outlet? What is the outlet’s mission? Plus commitments to ethics, diverse voices, accuracy, making corrections and other standards.
Author Expertise: Who Reported This? Details about the journalist who wrote the story, including expertise and other stories they have worked on.
Type of Work: What Is This? Labels to distinguish opinion, analysis and advertiser (or sponsored) content from news reports.
Citations and References: For investigative or in-depth stories, greater access to the sources behind the facts and assertions.
Methods: Also for in-depth stories, information about why reporters chose to pursue a story and how they went about the process.
Locally Sourced? Lets people know when the story has local origin or expertise.
Diverse Voices: A newsroom’s efforts to bring in diverse perspectives.
Actionable Feedback: A newsroom’s efforts to engage the public’s help in setting coverage priorities, contributing to the reporting process, ensuring accuracy and other areas.

I think linking to availabe source documents is the most important of these trust increasing measures.

Stealth corrections: When news media make corrections without noting them.

Radio and TV corrections policies?

The Press Council/Press Ombudsman is very slow, conservative and lame and complaining to them is often self defeating, (they recently ruled that headlines don't have to be true ) Newspapers often offer a right of reply, but its not our job to do theirs properly.

Terence Flanagan TD claims his office can submit parliamentary questions without his knowledge and approval

During a response to a thejournal.ie report on his using the Dail to target a water protestor Terence Flanagan TD claims his office can submit parliamentary questions without his knowledge. Fair play to thejournal reporting this core story but I think his answer deserved more scrutiny.

A TD used a Dáil question to ask if a water meter protester would have their dole cut TheJournal.ie Jun 28th 2014 Hugh O'Connell

A TD USED a parliamentary question to ask if the Department of Social Protection cuts the dole of people protesting against the government and specifically those involved in recent demonstrations against the installation of water meters.

Flanagan told this website that he did not have a vendetta against anyone,that his office – and not himself – had tabled the question and provided the information on behalf of an elderly constituent

Flanagan said he did not table the question himself, saying: “I didn’t table that personally myself, my office would have tabled that, they would have received that on behalf of a constituent who made a complaint.”

He seems to be suggesting his assistant submitted a question without his full knowledge and approval.

Here is the questions

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection Information on Joan Burton Zoom on Joan Burton the position regarding social welfare payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter

Social Welfare Fraud Investigations Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the social media pages of those social welfare payment recipients who are under investigation for benefit fraud or regarding concerns that they are not actively seeking work are regularly monitored by benefit fraud inspectors to assist with any investigations against them; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

His name is right there on the question, are thejournals paraphrased quotes fair and accurate?, if so is he trying to pass off his responsibilty and privilege to ask parliamentary questions to his poltical staff, the PQ was a follow up to a series of questions he asked in March Search for fraud speaker:Terence Flanagan (KildareStreet.com) were these also tabled by his office without his full knowledge and approval?

Previous cases where he asked about a specific person, indicated by the use of (details supplied). in 2011

Fines Administration: Terence Flangan PQ 27 May 2014

Clann Ireland is Matt O'Connor

Clann Ireland is Matt O'Connor most known for Fathers 4 Justice an Irish/English "fathers rights" activist.

Owned by a company in Hull. https://t.co/6rZLQqFnfV 3/

— brian lucey (@brianmlucey) November 5, 2017

I hadn't heard of Clann Ireland but it had a lot of tweets so I reckoned the account had been used under a different name, so I searched and found tweet related to an ice-cream company Federici Gelato as far back as 2013. It was a branding/promotional exercise by media agency Agitator co-run by Matt O'Connor.

He has also tweeted Fathers 4 Justice messages from this account.

He set up another front United4Justice trying to use the langauge of social justice to continue his fathers for Justice campaign.

Russia did not invent anti-European sentiment or invent people appearing to support Trump or some other divisive cause.

So its not a Russia bot.

Life v Work

Why does it seem like life must revolve around work.

If genuine news orgs don't address or correct their mistakes then they are fake news.

The definition of fake news is organisations that publish stories they know to be wrong. If genuine news organisations are made aware of mistakes and don't correct them then they too can be categorised as fake news.

Here are examples.

Irish News media correction policies

Irish newspapers have no accountability as Press Ombudsman won't tackle fake news in member newspapers. re false claim of military invasion of Ireland by the Independent.

4 "genuine news" orgs have published the same false claim without checking it first.

Why did multiple newspapers write that Denis O'Brien is a "majority shareholder" of INM?

Multiple news orgs refused to report the political party membership of election candidate and TD Tommy Broughan

Irish Times. Irish Times parrot Patrick O'Donovan's false claim. They have refused to correct it even though I pointed it out to an editor.

As for their columnists, clearly nobody else in the IT reads the columns before they are published eg. I still don't know where Una Mullally got that quote she based her opinion column re FF Gender Quotas on. This article was corrected but the article was left a mess and the author never acknowleged her mistake.


Noel Whelan: John Halligan is not cut out to be a Minister Fri, Nov 10, 2017 Noel Whelan.

Halligan is not alone in the history of ministers of state being insignificant in their department, but he is a striking modern example. He doesn’t have any legally delegated function. Like other Ministers of State he sometimes get to handle sections of legislation through the Oireachtas to answer a couple of questions.

A quick search of the Irish Statute Book shows Statutory Instruments Delegating functions to John Halligan. Despite Noel Whelan being opinion columnist there is plenty of statements of fact in his pieces that should be checked.
Noel Whelan admitted he was wrong but the Irish Times still won't correct it.

Independent.

Irishwoman claims second London attacker was also in Ireland

She met the two London Bridge terrorists Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane on at least 20 occasions both here and in the UK, she said.

The Irish Times a has longer video and expliclty reports that she 'did not know Redouane'.

In the Independent video the reporter asks her if she met them (the London bombers) and she replies she met them on many occasions here and in the UK, but as you see in both the videos she never explicitly says she met Redouane. In the main press conference shown on the Irish Times video she talks of meeting Butt and Chourdry many times (rather then Butt and Redouane).

I contacted the Independent journalist and she refused to acknowledge the possibilty she made a mistake. I also emailed the paper with no response.

The Irish Examiner made a similar mistake to the Indo, including Redoune in her claims, even though she was not refering to him, it was changed, later that day, online, "She claimed she saw him in Ireland “two or three times” and that he, Redouane, and other extremists operated out of a house in the Santry". Can't find the corrected story.

Irish Independent. Kevin Doyle mis-paraphrases Darragh O'Brien TD by suggesting he said "Russian jets have entered Irish airspace" Ireland is now a fully-fledged participant in 'modern Cold War' as Varadkar says we can't be neutral he actually said "Irish-controlled airspace" see Government Response to Salisbury Attack: Statements 27 March 2018. Its worth making distinction between Irish airspace and international airspace that Irish air traffic control helps manage traffic in, if your are treating this issue with seriousness it deserves.


Sunday Business Post

SBP reported that Ceann Comhairle has asked a former secretary general of Department of Agriculture Michael Dowling to review legislation system. Dail Calls Kerry Group Chair to Break Logjam Michael Brennan May 2017. I emailed the Ceann Comhairle offices they said they never heard of him. I told that to the reporter and the article was just deleted not corrected or clarified.

Attorney general called in to rule on hiring of special advisers Hugh O'Connell Oct 22, 2017.

Now The Sunday Business Post has learned that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has asked the AG to advise on whether the law for appointing advisers, the Public Service Management Act 2007, allows the cabinet to make orders with retrospective effect.

There is no "Public Service Management Act 2007" there is a "Public Service Management Act 1997" which matches what he is writing about. I searched for "Public Service Management Act 2007" and up came 3 government circulars that refer to a 2007 Act, but that doesn't mean it exists.
Corrected November 16 2017, took 3 weeks and many emails.


I think Sunday Business Post / Mary Regan may have made a mistake in her two articles, firstly a mistake in the name of advertiser, which I highlighted in email to the SBP the previous week but was repeated this last week.

Democracy for sale in social media’s Wild West Mary Regan May 6, 2018

Among the groups TRI found to be paying for ads is Expectant Mothers Together, which is currently running seven separate Facebook ads to the group of 577 users sampled.

Bots, fake ads and the war for the Eighth Amendment Mary Regan May 13, 2018

Among the groups TRI found to have paid for ads is Expectant Mothers Together, which targeted at least seven different Facebook ads to the group of 577 users sampled.

Expectant Mothers Together does not appear on the database, Is this meant to be "Expectant Mother Care" - EMC FrontLine Pregnancy Centers which does appear, see the TREF database

The Sudnay Business Post did correct their false claim of a foreign miltary invasion of Ireland a week later.

RTE
in Wallace makes emotional contribution on migrants 2016
it says

He said that the Afghans, Kurds and Syrians are economic migrants and the Irish were economic migrants themselves we should look again at how we control them.

but he actually said in the debate

We are blessed in Ireland with opportunities. We are not afraid of bombs falling on us at night while we sleep. Generally speaking, we are not worried about where we will find our next bite of food; we are not dying of hunger. We seem to forget that these are not even economic migrants, which all of the Irish who left Ireland were. There are millions of Irish people all over the planet. Imagine if they were as unwelcome as the Afghans, Kurds and Syrians are in Ireland. Please, let us consider this matter again.

which you can see at the end of the video, where does he say control?

Times Ireland
Michael Martin claimed the extra long Dail recess was uncesscary The Leader of the opposition claimed something that was contradicted by the chair of the house of parliament, the Times published the claim without checking it and the editor refused to address it after I pointed out contradiction.

Irish Examiner
Fianna Fail use false claims to justify anti-fake news bill. Again polictian makes claim reporter repeats it, when I point out that its false they just ignore me.

Open letter to Irish Examiner about their “Irish slaves” disinformation by Liam Hogan. (Article removed without explanation).

What happened to the state boards published skill matrix

re state boards, what happened to the published skill matrix?

National Gallery of Ireland, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Crawford Art Gallery: Summary of Reform Proposals 2012

Appointments by the Minister to the boards to draw on an independent assessment process, based on a published skills matrix to be drawn up by the Minister and managed through the Public Appointments Service.

Governance of Cultural Institutions 26 March 2013

Speech by Minister Jimmy Deenihan
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

To ensure that appointments by the Minister of the day to these boards will have regard to an independent assessment process, based on a skills matrix to be drawn up by the Minister and managed through the Public Appointments Service;

Report of the Joint Committee on the general scheme of the national cultural institutions (National Concert Hall) bill 2014

7.17 Head 17 – Board of the Hall

(2) All appointments by the Minister shall have regard to an independent assessment process, based on a published skills matrix to be drawn up by the Minister, and managed by the Public Appointments Service.

National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2014: Discussion

Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú: (assistant secretary)
Head 17(2) states that all appointments by the Minister shall have regard to an independent assessment process based on a published skills matrix to be drawn up by the Minister and managed by the Public Appointments Service.

National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Act 2015

National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015 Enacted as 10/12/2015

Board of NCH
10. (1) The NCH shall have a Board consisting of a chairperson and 8 ordinary members
appointed by the Minister.
(2) (a) The chairperson and ordinary members of the Board shall be appointed by the
Minister, from among persons who, in the Minister’s opinion, have experience of,
and expertise in matters connected to music, dance, the arts, finance, business,
administration, marketing, fundraising, philanthropy, corporate governance,
human resources or venue management.
(b) When making an appointment under paragraph (a) the Minister shall consult the
chairperson of the Board in relation to the expertise that is required on the Board.
Board of NCH
10. (1) The NCH shall have a Board consisting of a chairperson and 8 ordinary members
appointed by the Minister.
(2) (a) The chairperson and ordinary members of the Board shall be appointed by the
Minister, from among persons who, in the Minister’s opinion, have experience of,
and expertise in matters connected to music, dance, the arts, finance, business,
administration, marketing, fundraising, philanthropy, corporate governance,
human resources or venue management.
(b) When making an appointment under paragraph (a) the Minister shall consult the
chairperson of the Board in relation to the expertise that is required on the Board.

What happened to the published skill matrix?

I asked the Minister/department this questionand replied that recent advertisements had skill profiles. Which you can see here

Irish_Museum_of_Modern_Art_Information_Booklet.pdf

National_Concert_Hall_Information_Booklet.pdf

National_Gallery_of_Ireland_Information_Booklet.pdf

Crawford_Gallery_Information_Booklet.pdf

Although these call for expression of interest advertise vacancies for most of the boards seats its not for all of them.

I didn't think listing the skills that are being sought for the vacancies being advertised is a skill matrix, a skill matrix is listing the skills requirements of the entire board, and showing where there may be skill gaps.

Irish Times and Patrick O'Donovan both make same false claim and the Irish Times refuses to correct.

Patrick O'Donovan is complaining that he hasn't been delegated any ministerial functions by Minister Ross in the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport and the Irish Times repeated his false claim about him being the only one.

Minister in state as Shane Ross fails to delegate functions - Irish Times Mar 11, 2017 by Sarah Bardon

Correspondence [dated 13th February 2017] released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act shows that Mr O’Donovan told Mr Ross the refusal to delegate functions is causing “confusion” within the department and asked for it to be urgently addressed, claiming he is the only Minister of State to be in this position.

His key claim seems to be wrong, he says that he is the only Minister of State not to have been delegated functions but afaik Eoghan Murphy has not been either, other wise it would appear here Irish Statute Book

Patrick O'Donovan's email actually said he understood he is the only one in this situation, he is allowing himself to be mistaken, but the Irish Times does not qualify when Sarah Bardon of the Irish Times earlier asserted the same false claim.

Ross drink-driving crackdown to be blocked by Fianna Fáil Feb 22, 2017, Sarah Bardon

Mr O’Donovan is the only Minister of State not to have delegated powers...

If the sentence isn't true it should be corrected. I complained to the readersrep and editor of the Irish Times and they tried to prevaricate by saying they were waiting for a reply from the Finance Department about what powers had been assigned to MOS Eoghan Murphy, but they didn't need to ask the Department of Finance just look for the Statutory Instruments, delegated powers has a specific meaning, it does not mean assignment of areas of responsibilities as suggested by Irish Times editor Eoin McVey in his reply to me, because Patrick O'Donovan has already been assigned areas of responsibilty see Dail Question 25 October 2016.

A spokeswoman for Mr Ross said... said there was no precedent in the department to delegate functions, pointing to a similar situation between former minister for transport Paschal Donohoe and minister of state Michael Ring.

This is correct, you can search all Statutory Instruments related to delegated of functions on the OPAC library.


Timeline

Eoghan Murphy refers to delegated responsibilites while he doesn't have any 22 June 2016

Dara Callery asks each Department about MOS' delegated responsibilties25 October 2016

Out in the cold:  The six powerless junior ministers Kevin Doyle Independent.ie November 1 2016. It says "6 powerless junior ministers" Im not sure who it is referring to, Ring and Kyne(1)(2) got delegated functions in June, July 2016 months before the article was published although it doesn't specifically say they were powerless.
Patrick O'Donovan, Eoghan Murphy and Joe McHugh were not given delegated functions under those departments in that Enda Kenny post 2016 general election cabinet.

Michael Martin asks Enda Kenny about MOs 15 November 2016

Transport Tourism and Sport Committee where delegation of functions was discussed 1st February 2017.

FOI'd copies of emails 3rd and 13th of February from Patrick O'Donovan to the Minister


PQ Ministerial Functions 22 March 2017. 14 February 2017

Ministerial Responsibilty for An Post and Broadband. Media reports claims not facts.

re Ring offloads management of rural post offices to Naughten Mar 29, 2017, 01:00 Pat Leahy

junior minister Michael Ring has offloaded a political headache: responsibility for the post office network is to be transferred back to the Department of Communications.
This reverses a move last summer which saw responsibility for the network move from the Independent Roscommon TD’s Department of Communications to the Mayo Fine Gael TD’s Department of Rural Affairs.

What is the documented basis for this sentence?

Listen to Michael Ring 'I never had statutory responsibility for An Post' RTÉ - Today with Sean O'Rourke .mp3

These are the only relevant statutory instruments S.I. No. 376/2016 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016.

SCHEDULE


Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtainais (CLÁR) Programme

Rural Development Fund

Rural Recreation

Tidy Towns

Walks Scheme

Rural affairs and social enterprise (transfer of departmental administration and ministerial functions) order 2016

SCHEDULE


Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtainais (CLÁR) Programme

LEADER — Rural Development Programme 2007-2013

LEADER — Rural Development Programme 2014-2020

Rural Development Fund

Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) Scheme

Rural Recreation

Tidy Towns

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Walks Scheme

I don't see where it specifies that responsibility for the post office network was never not under the Department of Communications. Rural Development Fund at a stretch?

also Food and drug delivery could be among post office services by Mar 23, 2017 Sarah Bardon

However, Mr Naughten has insisted it was the role of Mr Ring and said he had transferred powers to the Fine Gael TD in July.
A spokeswoman for the senior Minister said: “A Cabinet decision was taken in July to transfer the post-office network and broadband to Mr Ring.
“If Mr Ring and the Department of Arts want to reverse that decision, a Cabinet memo will be required.”

What is the documented basis for this paragraph? Surely its their job to seek out the truth rather the just repeating claim and counter claim.

Ministers face off in high-speed broadband battle Stephen O’Brien April 9 2017

Heather Humphreys, the minister for rural and regional affairs, is resisting a move by communications minister Denis Naughten to bring responsibility for rural broadband back to the Department of Communications.

Enda Kenny, the taoiseach, gave Humphreys’ department partial responsibility for both last year, in an effort to put a political focus on rural Ireland through a single cabinet portfolio. But Michael Ring, a junior minister at Humphreys’ department, handed back responsibility for the postal network to the Department of Communications last month after he completed a report on how post offices could be developed as rural community hubs.

Where is the documents to back this up? finally the Independent directly quotes the government decision, but how is to be implemented.

Bickering ministers are branded 'childish' in row over future of post offices Indepedent.ie Kevin Doyle April 11 2017

The Irish Independent understands the An Post row dates back to a Government memo dated July 19, 2016 which "transferred responsibility for the post office network from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs".

Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised)

I would like to set out my responsibilities in the Department. They include national rural development schemes, including rural recreation, the rural walks scheme, the rural development fund and the CLÁR programme. Also under my remit are the national parks and nature reserves, the development of the Atlantic economic corridor, reinforcing the role of the Western Development Commission, dormant accounts measures, tidy towns, social enterprise and the development of the rural post office network. I will assist the Minister in the rolling out of rural broadband in Connacht.

Departmental Functions Dáil debates Wednesday, 1 June 2016

The broadband provision and rural post offices functions will be done very shortly, and probably the following week, but the transfer of the rural affairs functions will definitely be done next week.

but were they?

Departmental Staff Redeployment Dáil debates 6 July 2016

Two members of staff have also already transferred to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, one from the Post Office Network section, and one from the Rural Broadband section.

Miniserial briefing 2016 June 2016 Change of government department briefing pre re-organisation.
Dept of Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Organisation Chart

Rural Broadband & Post OfficesPrincipal OfficerStjohn O’Connor (S)

Date: Jan 2017
Stjohn O'Connor

Principal Officer
Company Name Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Dates Employed Jun 2016 – Present

how many staff do you need to implementation decision on future of Post Office Network? how many do they have?

Minister Ring establishes Post Office Hub Working Group 27th July 2016 Merrionstreet.ie

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Departmental Functions Written answers Thursday, 16 June 2016

Denis Naughten Minsiter for Communications :As part of the re-configuration of Government Departments, responsibility for certain elements of the National Broadband Plan and the post office network will transfer to the Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.

but did they?

In so far as the post office network is concerned, the implementation of the Final Report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group will be managed by the Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht. Oversight of An Post as a corporate entity remains with my Department.

"implementation" how is that dones statutorily?

With regard to state agencies and bodies, my Department will assume responsibility for the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the transfer of environment functions from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. I also have responsibility for the following State agencies and bodies:

- An Post

- Commission for Communications Regulation

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Departmental Functions Written answers Tuesday, 7 March 2017

In addition sections dealing with the the rollout of rural broadband and supporting the rural post office network transferred to my Department from the former Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Statement of Strategy 2016-2019

The high-level policy objectives for our new Regional and Rural Affairs function are:
to facilitate the roll out of rural broadband in conjunction with the Local Authorities and implement the report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group.

Our Mission Support the Post Office Network in adapting to a changing business environment by developing relevant services to rural communities;
Prepare rural communities for the roll out of broadband across rural Ireland;

Appendix 2 – Commitments relevant to the Department in the Programme for Government
The new Government will act swiftly on the recommendations of the Post Office Business Development Group by supporting the introduction and rollout, by An Post, of an “ePayment Account” in 2016, to enhance post office activity in financial services and increase footfall.

We will also advance a new model of 'community banking' by requesting An Post and the League of Credit Unions, as well as any other interested stakeholders, to investigate and propose a new model of community banking that provides a suite of banking services through the large network of Post Offices. This could be based on the Kiwibank model in New Zealand, where the Post Office owned bank provides a comprehensive suite of financial services, from personal loans and bank accounts to credit cards, business banking, and insurance. We will thoroughly investigate the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions
The new Government will also establish the feasibility of offering motor tax services and other State services in post offices.
We will establish a working group to identify the potential for local post offices to act as 'hubs' to facilitate other services such as health and transport and a one-stop-shop for Government services.
We will also support the establishment of a post office network renewal process to build on An Post's existing 5-year strategy for the network.

Commitments

Led by other Departments to which we will contribute: The making of Social Protection payments at Post Offices.

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs - Rural - Post Office Network

Post Office Network & Broadband Implementation Unit

The programme for Government commits to acting on all of the recommendations of the final report, including supporting the implementation of a basic payment account and enabling the payment of motor tax through the post office network.

The programme for Partnership Government

F) Post Offices & Community Banking
We acknowledge the renewal of the Department of Social Protection’s contract for cash social welfare payments at post offices, which is worth €54million, with over 38 million social welfare payments being made in post offices throughout the country. We will actively encourage payments at Post Offices. The new Government will act swiftly on the recommendations of the Post Office Business Development Group by supporting the introduction and rollout, by An Post, of an “ePayment Account” in 2016, to enhance post office activity in financial services and increase footfall.

We will also advance a new model of ‘community banking’...

The new Government will also establish the feasibility of offering motor tax services and other State services in post offices. We will establish a working group to identify the potential for local post offices to act as 'hubs' to facilitate other services such as health and transport and a one-stop-shop for Government services.
We will also support the establishment of a post office network renewal process to build on An Post's existing 5-year strategy for the network.

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on whodoeswhat.gov.ie

Regional Development and Rural Affairs

The main goal of the Department’s Regional and Rural Division is to promote and facilitate long-term sustainable economic and social progress across rural Ireland. To that end, the Department will work with stakeholders in the coming period to develop a Strategy which will include a Rural Action Plan to advance economic and social progress in rural Ireland. Other key actions include the implementation of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and the delivery of a range of other schemes, including a Rural Recreation Scheme, the Rural Walks Scheme, a Town and Village Enhancement scheme and the CLÁR Programme. The development of the Post Office network and preparing for the timely roll-out of broadband are also key priorities.

Rural Broadband and Post Offices

Division: Rural Broadband and Post Offices
Grade: Principal Officer
E-mail: stjohn.oconnor@ahg.gov.ie

Responsibilities

StJohn O'Connor is the Principal Officer with responsibility for the development of the Post Office network and preparing for the timely roll-out of broadband.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment Post Office Network: Discussion 17 January 2017 Dr. Stjohn O'Connor, principal officer.
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment Statement of Strategy 2015- 2017 Statement of Strategy 2016- 2019

High Level Objective 3 Postal
To ensure Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services on a par with the highest quality standards in key comparator EU economies.
The postal sector as a whole is facing significant change as a result of the growth of the Digital economy. Postal volumes are experiencing long term structural decline with the associated impact on the An Post financial position and its capacity to continue to deliver its universal service obligation. On the other hand, the growth of online business has provided new opportunities for the logistics industry.
Managing the scale of the challenge facing An Post will require a focus on innovation and new business models by the company and oversight of the shareholding Departments working with NewERA. In addition, the regulatory framework set out in the Postal Services Act, 2011 will be reviewed to ensure that it is fit for purpose.
The post office network is also facing significant challenges. The Report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group sets out a number of recommendations to assist the post office network as it prepares to address the changing demands of the postal market. Responsibility for implementation of the Report has transferred to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Strategy

Work to ensure An Post remains a strong and viable company, providing a high quality nationwide postal service and availing of commercial opportunities to leverage its asset base and to diversify.

Organisation Chart Corporate Governance, Postal Principal Officer Barbara Leeson

Responsible for the corporate governance of the commercial, non-commercial and regulatory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department and matters related to postal policy.

Postal Division
Communications
The Postal Division develops policies that ensure Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high-quality postal services. This division is managed under Governance and Operation.

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (2007–16)
Postal Division

The key role of the Postal Division is to develop and maintain an effective policy for the Irish postal sector and to ensure Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services.

The Division also has corporate governance functions in respect of An Post.

department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Post Office Network Tuesday, 7 March 2017

The implementation of any of the recommendations or proposals which have emerged from this process will require the agreement and input of An Post.

The actions will be monitored on an ongoing basis by my Department through its direct engagement in the delivery of the relevant measures, as well as through the processes which are being put in place to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development as a whole. A Monitoring Committee, which will be chaired by Minister Humphreys, will meet regularly to monitor the progress of each of the actions in the Plan. The Committee will include the key stakeholders from relevant public bodies as well as business and rural interests. Progress reports will be published every six months.

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Post Office Network 31 January 2017

The Post Office Network Business Development Group, chaired by Mr. Bobby Kerr, was established in late 2014 to examine the potential for additional Government business – as well as commercial business – to be transacted through the Post Office network. The final report of the Group was published in January 2016.

On foot of this report, two Working Groups were established to progress the recommendations arising from the report of the Business Development Group; these were the Post Office Network Renewal Implementation Group, chaired by Mr. Kerr, and the Post Office Hub Working Group which I myself chaired.

The Network Renewal Group examined a number of issues relating to the Post Office network, including the number and spatial distribution of post offices, branch modernisation, the streamlining of products and services, and postmaster contracts. Mr Kerr submitted his final report to An Post on 23rd December last.

The role of the Post Office Hub Working Group was to identify potential models under which the post offices could act as community hubs, especially in rural areas. This Working Group has also completed its work, and final drafting changes are currently being made to the Group’s report. I will be making this report available to the Government as soon as possible.

The recommendations arising out of these reports will be considered by the Board of An Post and by the Government respectively and I anticipate that a number of firm actions will be agreed for delivery by An Post, by my own Department, and potentially by other Government Departments.

These actions will be monitored on an on-going basis by my Department through its direct engagement in delivery, and also through the processes which are being put in place to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development as a whole. A Monitoring Committee, which will be chaired by Minister Heather Humphreys, will meet on a regular basis to monitor the progress of each of the actions in the Plan. The Monitoring Committee will include the key stakeholders from relevant public bodies and from business and rural interests. Progress reports will be published every six months.

An Post needs to change with the times and face up to challenges Jim Daly TD 29th March, 2017

The report from the Network Renewal Implementation Group was commissioned by An Post for An Post – it is not a Government report. This is where the speculation of the potential branch closures and job losses originates.

Minister White announces Bobby Kerr as Chair of post office network Business Development GroupSunday 21st December 2014

Who makes the decision to close?

An Post CEO cites Social Protection requirement that people must be able to collect their social welfare from 95% of within 3 km in an urban area and 95% of clients within 15 km in a rural area as a determining factor Prime Time RTE 11th April 2017

Varadkar renews €52M social welfare contract with An Post

Broadband Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Rural National Broadband Plan

The 32nd Dail and the do as little as possible government.

A do Nothing Dail or a do as little as possible government?

FactFind: One year in, is this really a "do-nothing" Dáil? Dan Mc Gilll theJournal.ie March 2017

Interesting stats thats you can't deny, the least amount of bills passed bar 1 other Dail, the slow government formation, Dail procedural changes is only part of the reason but it kinda misses the point, that the government still mostly controls the amount of bills that get to the Dail, and can still delay and block bills from the opposition. Its the do as little possible government not the "do nothing Dail".

Pre-legislative scrutiny where the General Scheme of Bills goes to commmittee before it is introduced to the Dail was introduced over the last Dail and it has slowed down the process of bills getting to the Dail.

Unfortunately the above article and many others article perpetuates a mistaken meme started by the recently ex-government party, Labour. Despite the minority government and the Dail reforms the government still mostly controls the amount of bills that get passed in the Dail. They can still delay (sometimes with the help of Fianna Fail TDs) and block bills the opposition are not allowed to introduce bills that put a charge on the state and any government bills that do have to be approved by the Taoiseach.

Consolidated Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann 2017

Bills involving the appropriation of revenue or other public moneys.
179. (1) A Bill which involves the appropriation of revenue or other public moneys, other
than incidental expenses, shall not be initiated by any member, save a member of the
Government.

Article 17.2 of the Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF IRELAND
THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENT
CONSTITUTION AND POWERS

ARTICLE 17 2 Dáil Éireann shall not pass any vote or resolution, and no law shall be enacted, for the appropriation of revenue or other public moneys unless the purpose of the appropriation shall have been recommended to Dáil Éireann by a message from the Government signed by the Taoiseach.

Noel Whelan: New politics means little legislation Noel Whelan Irish Times January 2017

Arguably the only substantial piece of new legislation passed by the Dáil was the Act to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis

Government Legislation Programme
Government Legislation Programme Spring/Summer session 2017

This Government Legislative Programme is divided into a number of sections

The first sets out the details of 31 Government Bills to be published by July 2017.
The second sets out the details of 33 Bills to undergo Pre-Legislative Stage in this Session.
The third sets out the details of 69 Bills each Department plans to introduce in the longer term.

The fourth sets out the 27 Bills which have already been published and are currently before the Oireachtas, detailing the progress they have so far made.
The final two sections set out the 18 Acts passed and the 28 Bills published by the current Government since it took office on the 6th May 2016.

Its always hard to say what bills will actually appear the departments are black boxes and its very labourious to track their progress once they do start. (Bills of 32nd Dail spreadsheet) There is so much focus on a do nothing Dail and little discussion of whats coming out of the departments. On This Week (mp3) in February Regina Doherty says theres plently of legislation 20 bills passed (how many of them started in previous Dail, how many were must pass budget bills?), 30 government bills started, 63 private member bills (how far have any PMBs got?). Not entirely convinced of government ambition. Minister of State for Disabliity Finian McGrath defends his pace of executive action on the Irish Times March 1st Inside Politics podcast (from ~25 mis).

Legislative Strike
The ‘new politics’ one year on: Different? Yes. Better? No Pat Leahy February 2017

The power of the Opposition has largely been used to slow the work of Government. Privately, many senior civil servants believe that the experiment of a minority government has been an abject failure; some even say that they are reluctant to propose legislation because they are afraid that the Dáil will amend it beyond recognition.

RTE Prime Time investigative reporter Katie Hannon says the 'government is largely paralysed, little legislation of merit of note being produced' (at 5:30 minutes)


Are the government on legislative strike because they cannot get their way 100%?


Private Members Bills
Over 90 private members bills initiated in 32nd "do nothing" Dail over 80 still in play although very few getting much further.

List of all 32nd dail pmb since yesterday on workingSheet3 List of bills in 32nd Dail


(If a bill is introduced and not blocked does that mean it automatically ordered for the second stage?)

Are there too many different "issue raising" private members bills being initiated for them all to suceed? are they blocking each others progress through to committees or would they not get very far through the Oireachtas anyway? so might aswell draft lots of them?

Office of the Parliamentary Legal Advisor
Capacity review of the Office of the Parliamentary Legal Advisor (OPLA) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Recommends .5 million spent a year to increase legal techinical drafting help to members drafting private members bill. Notes need to increase PMB quality and issues with regard to the number of PMBs being initiated and going to busy committees.

The reality is that most substantive and complex legislation across all areas of Departmental responsibility will continue to emanate in the form of Government Bills.

Committees
There has been some concern about the changes to committees which have been given their own morning slots so as not to clash with the Dail.

Splashing the cash: Oireachtas committees costing €265,000 Sarah Bardon Irish Times October 2016

Committee changes The new reform measures mean committees can only meet on a Wednesday and a Thursday morning to allow members be present for Dáil business.
It also means additional settings must be sanctioned by the business committee. However, chairpersons who attended the meeting on Wednesday evening claimed they are unable to hold regular meetings. There are now only four committees that meet regularly with others struggling to hold fortnightly meetings.

Members raised concerns that they are unable to properly scrutinise legislation due to constraints.

New politics beset by old problems in slow-moving Dáil Sarah Bardon Irish Times March 2017

“Everything has come to a shuddering halt,” he said. “For example, the finance committee is allocated a certain time every week to conduct its business. That is allocated to us by the business committee. If we want to deviate from it we have to make a request to the committee of committee chairpersons, who then have to seek approval from the business committee.
“It is a layer of bureaucracy that is ensuring absolutely nothing gets done.”

Standing Orders changes made in March to address this, a Dail motion to expand and define the powers of the Working Group of Committee Chairmen. Standing Orders: Motion Dáil debates Tuesday, 28 March 2017

Committee regularity Tableau Public Chart Click through to embiggen and compare Dail 31 and Dail 32.

Chart of Committees of 32nd Dail including private Meetings Links A year on, has 'New Politics' gone stale? writes Conor McMorrow and Michael Lehane for RTE analysis March 2017 The post originally said,

Even though his party’s whip Michael Moynihan had agreed to the week off at an earlier business committee meeting

until I pointed out that a Hugh O'Connell in the Sunday Business Post reported that Michael Moynihan had misssed the meeting due to a bereavement and I questioned whether he or FF had agreed to the week off at any business committee. Pat Leahy: Government needs a reboot – whoever leads it Pat Leahy Irish Times February 21017 Pat Leahy says creeping stasis in government has been "privately confirmed". I wouldn't call that confirmed at all. The ‘new politics’ one year on: Different? Yes. Better? No Pat Leahy February 2017

The power of the Opposition has largely been used to slow the work of Government. Privately, many senior civil servants believe that the experiment of a minority government has been an abject failure; some even say that they are reluctant to propose legislation because they are afraid that the Dáil will amend it beyond recognition.

Pat Leahy uses anonymous sources to say the current government is a failure. Senators angered by 'do nothing Dáil' Elaine Loughlin Irish Examiner 2016

In response to Mr Daly’s complaints, leader of the Seanad Jerry Buttimer said pre-legistlave scrutiny was now “stalling” the work that can be done.

Dail speaking and Legislation Time

Whats going on?

Micheál Martin seeks cut to small parties Fiachra Ó Cionnaith October 27, 2016 Irish Examiner

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called for key speaking rights for smaller parties to be cut, despite the move being central to Dáil reforms sought by his party after the general election.

FF deputies complain about Ceann Comhairle in speaking row Philip Ryan Indpendent 20/11/2016

Eamon Ryan was complaining about speaking time in the Dail 2016-11-08

"There is a danger that on Thursday we will not have the same speaking rights that we have today, if the Government and Fianna Fáil plans, working together, are agreed."

Green Party: Fianna Fáil’s commitment to political reform has come to an end Eamon Ryan 26th October 2016

"Independent analysis shows that overall speaking times are allocated to parties on a proportional basis, with bigger parties having the advantage of speaking first. Now they want to go further by cutting the speaking time for the smaller parties. That would restrict debate in an attempt to return us to an old two-party system that has had its day."

What independent analysis?

Oliver Moran The Green Party Spokesperson on political reform told me it was 'analysis was carried out by the Office of Clerk of the Dáil and it was referred to during a previous Dáil reform committee meeting.'

but hasn't spoken about it since.

A motion publishsed 14-11-16 for changes of Dail standing orders reducing time by 10 minutes of speeches at second stage was agreed.

That, in accordance with the recommendation of the sub-Committee on Dáil Reform under Standing Order 107(1)(a), the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business be amended in Standing Order 148 as follows:With effect from 15th November, 2016 (and only in respect of Bills which commence their second reading on or after that date), in paragraph (2) of Standing Order 148, to delete all words from ‘shall not exceed thirty minutes’ down to and including ‘not exceed twenty minutes.’, and substitute the following:

‘shall not exceed 20 minutes: Provided that where the Business Committee is of the opinion that in respect of a particular Bill, the time for each speech in this first round should be extended by a certain amount, it shall include a proposal to that effect in its report under Standing Order 27C(3).

The speech of any other member in the course of the debate shall not exceed 20 minutes.’.

Standing Orders of the Dail Houses of the Oireachtas

Standing Orders: Motion Dáil Éireann - 29/Nov/2016

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Regina Doherty): I move:
That, in accordance with the recommendation of the sub-Committee on Dáil Reform under Standing Order 107(1)(a), until further notice in the 32nd Dáil, Standing Order 29 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business be amended, with effect from 6th December, 2016:
(a) by the deletion of subparagraph (d) and the substitution of the following:
‘(d) The sequence in which Leaders shall be called upon to put questions shall be in accordance with the rota over nine weeks/27 sitting days, approved by the sub-Committee on Dáil Reform, determined on the basis of the number of members in each group, and with questions for each group distributed across each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that the Dáil sits: Provided that no group shall have more than one question each day. The rota as applied to particular dates shall be circulated periodically to members by the Journal Office.’;

and
(b) in paragraph (f), by the deletion of all words from ‘Provided that’ down to and including ‘that Standing Order’.”
Question put and agreed to.

Regina Doherty in the Irish Times Jan 2016

The two larger parties also share a concern that the smaller groupings in the Dáil are getting too much speaking time relative to their parliamentary strength, something that is now kept under constant review.

Final Report of the Sub-Committee on Dail Reform 24 May 2016

Government bill time is atleast 5.5 hours opposition times is 4 hours. Thats; 9.5 hours in total?

Chief Whip Regina Doherty says

“Particularly given that I only have five hours a week to pass legislation – as opposed to as much as I would have liked in the old Dail”

How much time on average would the gov and opp have/used in previous Dails?

The time available currently in Dail for Legislation is 11.25 hours per week.

Tom Kitt Committee System 30th Dail


This Glossary of Oireachtas Terms ( Constitutional Convention 2014) says oppostion used to have 3 hours.

So did gov used to have or use 8.5 hours a week? no?


Links
Role of the Houses of the Oireachtas in the Scrutiny of Legislation Dr. Brian Hunt 17th December 2010.