Sinn Féin to chair powerful PAC committee, as well as Justice and Defence

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Sinn Féin will chair the powerful Public Accounts Committee, as well as the Justice and Defence Committees.

The sharing of 28 Oireachtas committee chairman roles between Dáil groupings took place on Thursday, based on the general election results.

The individuals who will be appointed to the roles, who will receive an annual allowance bonus of €10,888, have not yet been confirmed.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party would push for a “truncated” process to establish committees so they can begin at the start, instead of the end, of May.

The Dáil is now on a two-week recess for Easter and will return on Tuesday, April 29th.

“It is intolerable that the Government is moving so slowly in establishing committees. There is no reason for this to be dragged out to the end of May,” she said.

“Our chief whip, Padraig Mac Lochlainn, put forward a proposal that the process be truncated to one week so that committees can be meeting in the first week of May.

“We offered to work during recess to make this happen.”

Ms McDonald also welcomed that the party will chair seven Oireachtas committees, the biggest number in its history.

The party will chair Public Accounts; Finance; Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; Defence and National Security; Disability Matters; Petitions; and Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.

The Social Democrats party will chair two committees, Health and Drug Use.

They secured a second committee chairmanship after including a seat won by TD Eoin Hayes, who is suspended from the parliamentary party.

The party said its internal disciplinary proceedings should not affect the allocation of committee positions, as the d’Hondt system is based on election results.

The Dáil Reform Committee ultimately agreed to count all 11 seats for the Social Democrats.

Labour will chair two Oireachtas committees, Arts and Travelling Community.

The Government parties will chair 15 Oireachtas committees.