In profile: Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil reform

The Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform is a standing Dáil committee responsible for reviewing and recommending changes to the rules and procedures that govern the operation of Dáil Éireann.

Working within the framework of Dáil Standing Orders, the committee examines proposals to amend parliamentary rules, improve legislative scrutiny, and modernise working arrangements in the House. Its remit includes consideration of private members’ time, the scheduling of business, speaking arrangements, voting procedures, and the functioning of committees. The committee may also review matters referred to it by the Ceann Comhairle or the Dáil, including procedural issues arising from new legislation, constitutional requirements, or evolving parliamentary practice.

Operating as an internal reform body, the committee focuses on how the Dáil conducts its business rather than on the substance of government policy. It seeks to enhance transparency, efficiency, and fairness in parliamentary proceedings, while ensuring that the rights of both Government and Opposition are respected. Its work can include consultation with party representatives, examination of comparative international practice, and recommendations designed to strengthen democratic accountability and effective scrutiny.