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Houses of the Oireachtas Commission – Annual Report 2019

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Houses of the Oireachtas Commission – Annual Report 2019 Annual Report 2019 Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Houses of the Oireachtas Oireachtais an Thithe Coimisiún Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Annual Report 2019 2019 Bhliantúil, Tuarascáil An Houses of the Oireachtas Leinster House Kildare Street Dublin 2 D02 XR20 www.oireachtas.ie Tel: +353 (0)1 6183000 or (0)76 1001700 Facebook: www.facebook.com/OireachtasNews Twitter: @OireachtasNews Instagram: www.instagram.com/oireachtas_news flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/oireachtas LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/company/housesoftheoireachtas Connect with us Download our App AnnualReport2019 Centenary Declaration On this occasion of the Centenary of the first 1 meeting of Dáil Éireann on 21st January 1919, We, the representatives of the Irish people, acknowledge and reflect on our shared and complex history; We commemorate and honour the vision, bravery and sacrifice of the members of the first Dáil Éireann; We take pride in, and cherish, their legacy of parliamentary democracy; and We solemnly commit, in this Declaration, to safeguarding and strengthening our parliamentary democracy, for the good of our nation, and for the next hundred years. Seán Ó Fearghaíl, T.D. Senator Denis O’Donovan Ceann Comhairle Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann Annual Report 2019 Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Table of Contents 2 Introduction by Ceann Comhairle and Cathaoirleach 3 Secretary General’s Overview 6 Our Governance Framework 9 Overview of the Work of the Commission in 2019 15 Annual Report on Implementation of the Strategic Plan 2019-2021 – A Parliament which Works for the People 17 Key Parliamentary Activities 2019 18 Four Key Strategic Outcomes 20 STRATEGY OUTCOME 1: An Effective Parliament 26 STRATEGY OUTCOME 2: An Open and Engaged Parliament 40 STRATEGY OUTCOME 3: A Digital Parliament 53 STRATEGY OUTCOME 4: A Well-Supported Parliamentary Community 58 Financial Performance over the Commission’s Three-Year Budget Framework 2019-2021 74 Accounts of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2019 75 Report on Compliance with the Provisions of the Prompt Payment Legislation 109 Appendices 110 Appendix I: Houses of the Oireachtas Service Organisation Chart 110 Appendix II: Statement of Resources 2019 111 Appendix III: Annual Report of the Audit Committee of the Commission 2019 112 Appendix IV: Bills Initiated in the Houses of the Oireachtas in 2019 115 Appendix V: Bills Passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas in 2019 118 Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Houses of the Oireachtas Appendix VI: Meetings and Reports of Parliamentary Committees in 2019 120 Appendix VII: Annual Report under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 123 Appendix VIII: Commission Meetings and Attendance in 2019 124 Appendix IX: Glossary of Terms 125 AnnualReport2019 Introduction by Ceann Comhairle and Cathaoirleach 3 e are pleased to present the 2019 annual This year’s annual report is presented at an Wreport to the Houses of the Oireachtas extraordinary time as our nation addresses pursuant to the statutory reporting requirement the profound changes to our lives brought specified in section 6 of theHouses of the about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Oireachtas Commission Acts 2003-2018 We express our sincere condolences to the families (the Commission Acts). and friends of those who have died as a result of The report presents an overview of the work of the COVID-19. Commission in performing its functions, specifically We also express our gratitude to all those remarkable in relation to the provision of services to support the workers in the frontline; our health care workers work of the Houses of the Oireachtas and members caring for our population; those who returned home of parliament. The audited financial accounts, from abroad and came out of retirement offering presented at page 75, show expenditure incurred their skills and expertise; our key workers providing in running the Houses of the Oireachtas in 2019. essential services; our public servants providing The annual progress report on implementation vital public services; and the extraordinary efforts by of the Strategic Plan, presented to the Commission neighbours and volunteers across our communities by the Secretary General in accordance with section who have stepped in to help the most vulnerable. 16 of the Commission Acts, is set out at page 19. Thank you for your service to us all. The report presents progress against the Strategic Plan in 2019. We acknowledge the achievements The Houses of the Oireachtas and parliamentarians over the past year, the actions planned to take have an important role in providing oversight of forward the strategy over the next period of the the measures imposed to protect public health Plan, and the efforts of staff of the Service in and their impact on lives and livelihoods. At a time achieving the progress reported. when the people have made great sacrifices and shown great determination to support the public health effort, it has never been more important Annual Report 2019 for elected representatives to raise the concerns of their constituents in parliament and ensure that the response to the public health emergency is underpinned by parliamentary scrutiny. Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Reflecting more broadly on our work over the last In January 2019, a special sitting of both Houses year, the completion of the Georgian Leinster House of the Oireachtas was held in the Mansion House Restoration Project was an important milestone. to commemorate the centenary of the first meeting The restoration and conservation of the 274-year- of Dáil Éireann. To commemorate this historic 4 old House was a major undertaking that will not occasion, throughout the year the Houses hosted only preserve its history for future generations, the a programme of public engagements events under upgrade of the building will ensure that Leinster the Dáil 100 commemorative programme to open House will meet the needs of our parliament and the institution to the public. parliamentarians and continue to be accessible and To mark the completion of the restoration project, welcoming to visitors for years to come. We express Leinster House was opened to the public for a our appreciation to Commissioner John McMahon, programme of special guided tours and cultural the Chief Architect, Ciaran O’Connor and their team activities, allowing visitors to explore the historic of officials from the Office of Public Works. House and learn about its restoration and The transition of Seanad Éireann back to Leinster conservation from those involved in the project. House from its temporary chamber in the National Another area of focus was to facilitate young Museum of Ireland was the first objective in preparing people in having their voices heard in our national the building for reoccupation. The work included parliament. In November, 157 young people took re-instating the Seanad chamber in the House in time their seats in Dáil Éireann to convene the first for the resumption of Seanad sittings following Youth Assembly on Climate. The event was a unique the summer recess. We would like to express our opportunity for young delegates from across the appreciation to the Board of the National Museum country to present their views and proposals on of Ireland who supported us during this project. climate action from the floor of the Dáil chamber Connecting the public with their parliament and to TDs, Senators and Ministers. We would like to making the Houses more accessible is an integral express gratitude to RTÉ for working with the Houses part of the Commission’s Communications Strategy. of the Oireachtas Service in organising the Assembly. Much has already been achieved to advance this We were also privileged to host Dáil na nÓg, the objective and this work continued through a variety national parliament for young people, for their of initiatives over the course of the year. biannual debate in Leinster House as part of the Dáil 100 commemorative programme. Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Houses of the Oireachtas AnnualReport2019 These were important occasions to observe young Last year was the final year of the 32nd Dáil and people’s engagement with the democratic process 25th Seanad. An important objective of the and to hear from the next generation of decision Commission and the Service at the current time is to makers on the issues of importance to them. We support newly elected members in undertaking would like to commend the young people involved their legislative roles in the Dáil and Seanad. 5 for their thought-provoking debates in the Chamber. In closing, we would like to express our appreciation We welcomed over 98,000 visitors to Leinster House to former members who served on the Commission in 2019. While visitor access to the Houses has been over the last four years, and also the Committees suspended during the current period to comply with who assist the Commission. We welcome new public health guidelines, Oireachtas TV will continue Commission members and we look forward to to broadcast live coverage of proceedings of the working with them in the period ahead. We Dáil, Seanad and the parliamentary committees. acknowledge the achievements of the Service over We will also continue to facilitate engagement by the last year. We would like to thank the Secretary schools and students with our online education General, the Management Board and the staff of programme, and our online and digital the Service for their work in delivering the services communications channels will be further utilised required to support the Houses of the Oireachtas to provide information to the public on the work and their members. We express particular gratitude of the Houses. We invite you to visit the Houses to the Service for their work in responding to the of the Oireachtas online at www.oireachtas.ie. exceptional challenge to maintain the vital services required to enable the parliamentary business and The Commission’s financial account for the year the work of members to continue, in a safe manner, ended 31 December 2019, which has been audited during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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