How should Irish adoption laws be changed?

Representatives from a number of groups will address the Health Committee on this issue 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

9.30 am, Committee Room 2: Representatives from the Children’s Rights Alliance, Adoption Rights Alliance, International Adoption Association and the Adoption Authority of Ireland will address the Health Committee on adoption laws in Ireland.
10 am, Room 1: Officials from the Department of the Environment will appear before the Public Accounts Committee so water charges are likely to come up.
12 pm, Dáil: Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will be fielding Leaders’ Questions today.

Everything else happening in the Dáil

9.30 am: Leo Varadkar will be talking all things transport.
10.45 am: Debate on the Housing Bill will resume once again. Yesterday, Fr Peter McVerry said that provisions in the legislation would ‘massage’ the number of people on the social housing list, rather than address the problem directly.
Afterwards, three Bills will be discussed:
The Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014 that seeks to provide free GP care for children under the age of 6.
The State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014, which looks at transferring the ownership of the airport from the Department of Public Expenditure to a new commercial State company, Shannon Group Plc.
The third Bill seeks to extend examinership to co-operative societies, something that is currently only an option for companies.
12.21 pm: The Order of Business will be read. Morning Business will then be concluded.
4.42 pm: Everything and anything could come up during Topical Issues.
5.30 pm: The lower house will adjourn.

Everything happening in the Seanad

10.30 am: The Order of Business will be read.
11.45 am: Senators will then debate a Bill that seeks to extend social protection to the spouses or civil partners of the self-employed.
Matters on the Adjournment will round out the week’s events in the Seanad.

Everything else that’s happening in the Committees

Jobs Committee

10 am, Room 3: A Bill that seeks to clarify the law around employment permits will be debated.

Good Friday Committee

10.15 am, Room 4: TDs and Senators will meet with members of the Centre for Cross Border Studies to discuss implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

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

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