Committee operations

The Houses will at that point agree motions setting up sectoral and some thematic committees. These motions set out how many Members from each House will be on a committee, as well as their powers and remits.

Membership

Membership places on a committee are typically in proportion to a party’s or group’s share of TDs or Senators.

The relevant House’s Committee of Selection, which includes the party and group Whips, prepares a report to be adopted by the House or Houses listing Members to be appointed to specific committees. Each party or group nominates members to their allotted places on a committee to the Committee of Selection.

A TD or Senator may be a member of multiple committees.

Committee Cathaoirleach, or Chair, posts are typically allocated proportional to party or group size in the Dáil according to a calculation, known as the d’Hondt method. Members should contact their party or group Whip for further information. 

Meetings

Committees typically meet on Tuesdays from 11 a.m., Wednesdays from 9.30 a.m. and Thursdays from 9.30 a.m. Committee meetings take place in four dedicated committee rooms located in the LH2000 complex. Each committee usually has one set meeting slot per week but additional meetings and private meetings on the Microsoft Teams platform may also be required.

The work differs by committee. Sectoral committees may scrutinise legislation, EU proposals and Government expenditure and policy examinations. Special committees, on the other hand, focus on a more in-depth examination of one topic.