Scrapping Dáil prayer and ‘duck test’ among new reform proposals

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

A proposal forcing TDs to declare detail of all significant additional income and liabilities is among suggestions for Dáil reform made by opposition parties.

Parties were invited to make proposals after a row over speaking rights that delayed Micheál Martin’s nomination as Taoiseach last month.

It has previously been suggested that a new technical group for “Government-aligned” members be created, or that there should be a group for “unaligned members” separate from opposition and government.

Labour’s submission includes a “duck test” to determine whether a politician is an opposition or government TD.

It says there should be a clear process for independent TDs to designate as either members of the opposition or government supporters, with the Ceann Comhairle ruling on the matter.

It suggests the Ceann Comhairle should consider a member’s public statements, previous votes and participation in government formation talks.

“It should be a matter of judgment for the Ceann Comharile to apply the ‘duck test’ for this purpose – if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.”

Labour and the Social Democrats have both suggested a variety of other measures to modernise and streamline Dail business, including replacing the daily Dail prayer with a period of silent reflection.

One of Sinn Féin’s key proposals is an “Irish Unity week” which would see ministers in the Stormont Executive address joint programmes in the Dáil.

It has called for “a week-long dedicated Dail sitting in the North” at the beginning of September, including a debate on the preparation for Irish unification, progress on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and on the Shared Island Initiative.

The Dáil could sit in committee which would allow Northern Ireland MPs, Assembly members and Executive ministers to join TDs, senators and MEPs in proceedings.

It also said there should be an annual invite for the first minister and deputy first minister of the Stormont Assembly to address a Dail plenary meeting on being elected to their roles.

Sinn Féin also called for earlier sittings of the Dáil on Tuesdays, as well as on Wednesdays after recesses.

Labour has also called for increased powers for the Ceann Comhairle to summon ministers to answer questions relevant to their brief, and to override “majoritarianism” in the Order of Business.

The Social Democrats have suggested new requirements for public representatives to declare significant liabilities – for example, aggregate borrowings greater than €500,000 from any given lender – as well as assets.

While members currently must declare alternative income exceeding €2,500 along with share and land holdings above €13,000, they are not required to disclose the level of income they receive.

The Social Democrats said this only provides “surface level” transparency and does not indicate the significance of any potential conflicts of interest that arise.

“Public representatives should be required to disclose detail of all significant income, share and land holdings.”

The Social Democrats also call for opposition TDs to be able to propose legislative amendments entailing a charge on the Exchequer. This has been repeatedly blocked by the Government’s use of “money messages”.

There are also calls for a dedicated media room for opposition parties to hold press conferences and suggestions to speed up Dáil procedures through reducing the period of bell ringing before votes.