Dáil reforms since 2011: Pathway to power for the ‘puny’ parliament?

Abstract

We know that the Dáil is dominated by the government. From 2010 to 2016 there was a clamour for change, which ultimately led to significant reforms of the Oireachtas, and specifically the Dáil. In this article we show that the basis for the weakness of the Dáil was the government's control of the legislative agenda. This article tracks the changes that were made, and we make an early assessment of them. However, firm conclusions are difficult to draw because of the extent to which the strengthening of the Dáil is a function of the weak position of the current minority government.

A century of Irish parliamentary government

“…However, the government's monopoly of the parliamentary agenda remained a defining characterisation of Irish politics and, as Murphy suggested (2006), reforms that had occurred prior to the start of the century tended to prioritise technical, procedural and administrative efficiency in an increasingly busy chamber over the balance of power between legislature and executive. Arising from the 2008 financial, banking and economic crises, there has been a notable series of changes to parliamentary procedures (Lynch et al, 2017). These have arisen from a com bination of the growing pressure of parliamentary business, changes to the party system (including a larger number of non-party or independent members) arising from electoral volatility, and the related inability of any party to form a majority government in 2016.…”

Preface

“…A proper assessment of the true effect of the latter reforms may well have to await the future election of a majority regime, however. 20 The writing of this book has involved the assistance of many. provision is required to be made by law to enable the member of Dáil Éireann who is the Ceann Comhairle immediately before a dissolution of Dáil Éireann to be deemed without any actual election to be elected a member of Dáil Éireann at the ensuing general election.…”

David M. Farrell, Jane Suiter, Reimagining Democracy: Lessons in Deliberative Democracy from the Irish Front Line. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 2019

“…;Lynch et al (2017);Farrell, Suiter, Clodagh (2017);Elkink et al (2017);;Suiter, Farrell, O'Malley (2016);Farrell, O'Malley, Suiter (2013);Suiter, Farrell (2011).…”