John McGuinness: Agencies must answer parliamentary questions
John McGuinness addressed the Dáil before close of business to raise concerns about inadequate replies to parliamentary questions and a lack of responsiveness from several agency heads. He followed up on complaints and a letter from Deputy Carol Nolan and urged both the Oireachtas and government to ensure agencies answer the House because public service must come first.
John McGuinness explains his routine role examining parliamentary questions, including referrals and refusals. He highlights a pattern of inadequate replies and poor engagement from certain unelected agency leaders, drawing attention to the issue on the floor of the Dáil.
McGuinness refers explicitly to complaints he has received and to a letter from Deputy Carol Nolan to underline that the problem is ongoing. He informs the Tánaiste that replies remain inadequate and that many agencies offer little or no substantive response.
He agrees with the Tánaiste’s approach that agency heads are responsible to the House and calls for reflection by those agency leaders. McGuinness stresses that both the Oireachtas and the government should consider measures to secure better accountability from agencies.
McGuinness frames the issue as a matter of public interest, not of political point-scoring: this is about serving citizens. He thanks the Chair for their work, reiterates his own commitment to answering questions fully, and urges agencies to heed today’s proceedings.
Summary of the intervention
John McGuinness explains his routine role examining parliamentary questions, including referrals and refusals. He highlights a pattern of inadequate replies and poor engagement from certain unelected agency leaders, drawing attention to the issue on the floor of the Dáil.
Complaints and correspondence
McGuinness refers explicitly to complaints he has received and to a letter from Deputy Carol Nolan to underline that the problem is ongoing. He informs the Tánaiste that replies remain inadequate and that many agencies offer little or no substantive response.
Responsibility to the House
He agrees with the Tánaiste’s approach that agency heads are responsible to the House and calls for reflection by those agency leaders. McGuinness stresses that both the Oireachtas and the government should consider measures to secure better accountability from agencies.
Implications for public service
McGuinness frames the issue as a matter of public interest, not of political point-scoring: this is about serving citizens. He thanks the Chair for their work, reiterates his own commitment to answering questions fully, and urges agencies to heed today’s proceedings.
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Transcript
Tánaiste, before we close business, I just want to say, as last Ciann Comhairle, I often have the task of going through parliamentary questions and refusing them, or asking that they be referred to the appropriate agency. And I want to follow up on the complaints that I have received, and a letter from Deputy Karen Nolan, to inform you again that the replies are inadequate, and there is little or no response from the agencies. And as last Ciann Comhairle, dealing with these parliamentary questions and having to sign off on some refusals, or lack of information, I think that you are correct in saying that they are responsible to the House, and I would agree with the approach that you are taking. Can I thank you last Ciann Comhairle, and I say that I hope that the agencies have looked in today on today's proceedings. You do your very best to chair these proceedings, I do my very best to answer as best as I can the questions that are put, and there is clearly, I think it's fair to say, concern across this House from the lack of responsiveness of a number of unelected heads of agencies, and I think they need to reflect on that, and I think both this Oireachtas and the government should consider how to ensure that, because this isn't about us, it's about the people we serve. Thank you.