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QUESTION TIMEHouses
of the Oireachtas | Leinster House - a short history TRÁTH NA gCEISTEANNA QUESTION TIME Dáil Éireann allocates a specific time period commencing at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and 3.30 p.m. on Thursdays during which Deputies may ask questions of Members of the Government on matters relating to public affairs connected with their Departments or on matters of administration for which they are officially responsible. This procedure is popularly known as Question Time and is one of the important and better known procedures which Members use to make the Government accountable to Dáil Éireann. Cuirtear tréimhse ama áirithe ar fáil i nDáil Éireann a thosaíonn ar 2.30pm Dé Máirt agus Dé Céadaoin agus 3.30 pm Déardaoin, tréimhse ar ceadmhach do Theachtaí lena linn ceisteanna a chur ar Chomhaltaí den Rialtas faoi ábhair a bhaineann le cúrsaí poiblí i ndáil lena Ranna nó faoi ábhair riaracháin a bhfuil freagracht oifigiúil orthu ina leith. Tugtar Tráth na gCeisteanna ar an nós imeachta seo go coitianta agus tá sé ar cheann de na nósanna imeachta is tábhachtaí agus is mó clú a úsáideann Comhaltaí chun an Rialtas a dhéanamh cuntasach do Dháil Éireann. The Taoiseach answers questions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only while other Members of the Government answer Questions in turn in accordance with an agreed daily rota. The rota repeats itself every five weeks or so thus ensuring that Deputies have an opportunity of questioning each Minister on a regular basis. Members are restricted to two oral questions each to each Minister. Five oral questions can be nominated for priority answer each day. These are allocated between the Parties on the basis of Party strengths. Freagraíonn an Taoiseach Ceisteanna ar an Máirt agus ar an gCéadaoin amháin agus freagraíonn Comhaltaí eile den Rialtas Ceisteanna ina seal de réir róta laethúil chomhaontaithe. Tarlaíonn an róta céanna gach cúig seachtain nó mar sin, rud a áirithíonn go mbíonn an deis ag Teachtaí gach Aire a cheistiú go rialta. Bíonn na Comhaltaí teoranta do dhá cheist ó bhéal an duine ar gach Aire. Is féidir cúig cheist ó bhéal a ainmniú i gcomhair freagra tosaíochta gach lá. Déantar iad sin a roinnt ar na Páirtithe de réir líon na suíochán atá ag na Páirtithe. Not all Questions have to be answered orally. A procedure exists whereby Members can submit questions for written reply to members of the Government. A Member is not restricted in the number of these Questions that can be asked. In 2001, some 25,000 questions were answered. Written questions require three days notice as do Priority Questions, while oral questions require four days notice. Ní gá gach Ceist a fhreagairt ó bhéal. Tá nós imeachta ann faoinar ceadmhach do Chomhaltaí Ceisteanna a chur isteach i gcomhair freagra scríofa chuig comhaltaí den Rialtas.. Níl aon teorainn leis an líon Ceisteanna is ceadmhach do Chomhalta a chur. Sa bhliain 2001, freagraíodh 25,000 ceist. Bíonn gá le fógra trí lá i gcás ceisteanna scríofa agus leis an bhfógra céanna i gcás ceisteanna tosaíochta, ach fógra ceithre lá a bhíonn riachtanach i gcás ceisteanna ó bhéal. On the day, each Question will normally lead to a short exchange by way of supplementary questions which are allowed at the discretion of the Ceann Comhairle. Before a Question can appear on the Dáil Order Paper, which is prepared under the direction of the Ceann Comhairle, it is examined to ensure that complies with the Standing Orders (Rules) of the House. Oral Questions not reached may either receive a written reply or may be held over until the next time the relevant Minister answers Oral Questions. Ar an lá féin, is gnách go mbíonn gearrphlé ar gach ceist trí mheán Ceisteanna forlíontacha a cheadaítear le discréid an Cheann Comhairle. Sular ceadmhach Ceist a thaispeáint ar Riar na hOibre a ullmhaítear faoi stiúir an Cheann Comhairle, scrúdaítear í chun a dheimhniú go bhfuil sí de réir Bhuan-Orduithe (Rialacha) an Tí. I gcás Ceisteanna ó bhéal nach sroichtear, is féidir freagra scríofa a thabhairt nó is féidir iad a choimeád siar go dtí an chéad uair eile a bheidh an tAire iomchuí ag freagairt Ceisteanna ó bhéal. From time to time, Deputies will wish to ask Questions on matters of urgent public importance which have arisen suddenly and the Ceann Comhairle is empowered under Standing Orders to accept Questions of that nature at very short notice. If accepted by the Ceann Comhairle, these Questions, known as Private Notice Questions, are taken at the end of Question Time. Ó am go chéile, is mian le Teachtaí Ceisteanna a chur faoi nithe a mbaineann tábhacht phráinneach phoiblí leo agus atá tar éis teacht chun cinn go tobann agus tá de chumhacht ag an gCeann Comhairle faoi na Buan-Orduithe Ceisteanna den sórt sin a ghlacadh ar fhógra an-ghearr. Má ghlacann an Ceann Comhairle leis na Ceisteanna sin, ar a dtugtar Ceisteanna ar Fhógra Príobháideach, pléitear iad i ndeireadh Thráth na gCeisteanna. Question Time is invariably topical and sometimes controversial and consequently attracts substantial media coverage. Houses
of the Oireachtas | Leinster House - a short history For more detailed information, please contact Public Relations Office, Leinster House, Dublin 2. |
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