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The Justice Committee will discuss Irish prisoners. Hands of prisoner via Shutterstock

Seanad reform, wind energy and Irish prisoners in the UK

Everything happening in Leinster House today.

WHAT’S GOING ON in Leinster House?

Every day the Dáil and Seanad are sitting, TheJournal.ie brings you the most comprehensive guide to what our lawmakers are getting up to in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

So, here is what we can expect to be happening in the Dáil, Seanad and Committee rooms today…

3 things we’ll be keeping an eye on

  • Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte will potentially face questions at 2 pm on the apparent shelving of plans to build a number of wind farms in the midlands to export energy to the UK.
  • Leaders’ Questions will take place at 3.15 pm. Frank Flannery’s resignation is likely to come up, amid ongoing calls for him to appear before the Public Accounts Committee. Enda Kenny is in London, so Eamon Gilmore is set to take questions.
  • Sinn Féin will be renewing calls for the Gateway scheme to be scrapped at 7.30 pm. Last week Gerry Adams suggested the initiative was not properly funded and was massaging live register figures.

Everything else that’s happening in the Dáil

  • Taoiseach Enda Kenny is scheduled to face a grilling on matters relating to his department for an hour from 3.36 pm but with him being in London this is likely to be deferred.
  • Following the Order of Business, Topical Issues will be discussed from 5.06 pm to 7. 30 pm.
  • The Dáil will adjourn at 9 pm.

Everything happening  in the Seanad:

  • The Order of Business will run for about 75 minutes where everything and anything will be discussed at 2.30pm.
  • Environment and Local Government Minister Phil Hogan will address the upper house on a bill that would extend voting rights to graduates of higher education institutions in Seanad elections at 3.45pm.
  • Matters on the Adjournment will take place after Hogan’s statement.

Everything else that’s happening in the Committees

  • The Agriculture Committee will meet with representatives from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to discuss the Common Fisheries Policy in Room 3 at 2 pm.
  • The EU Affairs Committee will be discussing the voting rights of EU citizens with representatives of the European Commission in Room 1 at 2 pm. Following this, Lithuanian Ambassador Vidmantas Purlys will address the committee on the introduction of the euro to his country next year.
  • Jobs Minister Richard Bruton will be discussing the bill to dissolve Forfás with the Jobs Sub-Committee in Room 2 at 1.30 pm.
  • A representative from the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas will meet with the Justice Sub-Committee in Room 4 at 2.30 pm to discuss Irish prisoners serving public protection sentences in the UK.

Here’s how to watch what’s going on in Leinster House today:

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15 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Handsome McWonderful
    Favourite Handsome McWonderful
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    Oct 19th 2020, 10:51 AM

    Yellow weather warning, Fungi MIA and Level 5 on the way. Carlsberg don’t do Mondays…

    97
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    Mute lelookcoco
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    Oct 19th 2020, 12:43 PM

    @Handsome McWonderful: Yes big concern in Dingle, at losing their big cash-cow.

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    Mute James Gannon
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    Oct 19th 2020, 2:19 PM

    @lelookcoco: except Fungi is a bull..

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    Mute Derek Anderson
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    Oct 19th 2020, 9:59 AM

    Best weather forecast is open the door. If raining stay in if not then go out with an umbrella.

    81
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    Mute Mr_Bumkee
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    Oct 19th 2020, 11:17 AM

    @Derek Anderson: Except that’s not FOREcast. That’s just the current weather. Good one though.

    61
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    Mute flexfinn
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    Oct 19th 2020, 9:41 AM

    Nearly time to put away the summer wardrobe so

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    Mute Mary Oliver
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    Oct 19th 2020, 10:50 AM

    @flexfinn: and the patio furniture

    23
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    Mute Galwaygogo
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    Oct 19th 2020, 10:54 AM

    Great to see they included the 6 counties on our island!in this for a change!

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Oct 19th 2020, 11:33 AM

    @Galwaygogo: yes, it was agreed and flagged some time ago that the map of Ireland would include weather warnings from the UK met office. There is an anomaly though, if the UK or Irish met office issue a warning and the other office does not then the weather better change as it crosses the border.

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    Mute gary mullen
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    Oct 19th 2020, 12:45 PM

    FGFFG so the government are now taking over the weather forecast? Yesterday it said the whole country was under a yellow rain status, today they changed their mind and only a few counties are effected? Sound very similar to the government levels 3- 5 to me.

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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Oct 19th 2020, 5:58 PM

    Rain today, level 4/5 restrictions tomorrow, clocks going back this weekend, anyone for Lanzarote next week!

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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Oct 19th 2020, 5:52 PM

    Rain today, level 4/5 tomorrow, clocks going back this weekend, Lanzarote next week if I had any sense.

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    Mute Mark Day
    Favourite Mark Day
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    Oct 19th 2020, 7:20 PM

    Wayhay! We’ve got the north back!

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