Confirmation that Oireachtas Committees will not be established until May outrageous – Pádraig MacLochlainn TD

Sinn Féin Chief Whip, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD, has described confirmation that Oireachtas Committees will not be established until May 8th at the earliest as ‘outrageous’ and ‘solely down to the Michael Lowry deal’.

Teachta Mac Lochlainn said:

“Yesterday we found out that the Oireachtas Committees won’t start meeting for at least another five weeks.  

“Quite frankly, this is outrageous. This is solely down to the Michael Lowry deal with the government. 

“It is crystal clear that on February 5th – two months ago now – the Ceann Comhairle acted on independent legal advice and ruled that the Michael Lowry Regional Independent Group were government TDs and could not therefore form a group in opposition.

“It is at that point that the D’Hondt process should have commenced and Oireachtas committees should have been formed under Dáil Standing Order 113 (2).

“The government has not changed this Standing Order since, so why have we lost all this time?

“This outrageous delay means that, at a time of global uncertainty as a result of the Donald Trump-imposed US tariffs, the Oireachtas committees responsible for discussing key areas such as Enterprise, Finance, Trade and Foreign Affairs will be unable to ensure the necessary and critical engagement with ministers, employers, unions and all relevant sectors. 

“Not to mention tackling the huge challenges in housing, health services and so many issues of public importance. 

“By their actions over several months now, this government has delayed the formation of Oireachtas Committees. 

“They are clearly more determined to perform manoeuvres to placate Michael Lowry and give big pay rises to junior ministers rather than getting on with the real work for the Irish people.”