The arguments over the committees continue to drag on. To date only three have been filled - Public Accounts, where FG's Jim Mitchell was elected chair; Procedure and Privileges, which the Ceann Comhairle, now Seamus Pattison, always chairs; and Foreign Affairs, where by agreement within the Government, the only PD without a position, Des O'Malley, has been elected to the chair.
This Government promised to reduce the number of committees (from 20) because deputies and senators were having difficulty servicing them. But what of the 10 committees still not formed? Government concern over its majority and the continuing rows among the technicals have held up everything. The Government is in a minority and since representation on committees has to reflect Dail numbers, the whips have been in prolonged discussion as to how the Government can get its legislation through.
A formula giving Government deputies seven places, the opposition six and the technicals one is nearly agreed: they will meet as select committees, i.e. deputies only, when legislation is being passed, but as joint committees at other times. Finally, and most importantly, the minister whose legislation is being dealt with is to be given the casting vote, so ensuring the Government can make the law.
Since the technicals, i.e. the Independents including Democratic Left and the Greens, are still arguing, basically because DL leader Proinsias De Rossa wants no association, however remote, with Sinn Fein's Caoimhgin O Caolain, and Tony Gregory says everyone must be included. The Government chief whip, Seamus Brennan, continues to draw names from a hat to fill committee places. On Wednesday, the Green TD, John Gormley failed to gain admission to the whips' meeting where the divi-up on committees and paid chairs was being discussed. He argued that although Pat Rabbitte was there from the Independent group, but since the technicals had not been formed, he was representing no one but DL. And so it goes on.