A radical overhaul of the Dáil and Seanad is among the proposals submitted by Fine Gael for next month's emergency budget.
During a briefing at the Department of Finance last week, opposition parties were invited by the Government to submit their proposals for inclusion in the emergency budget on April 7th.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny today set out proposals for inclusion, which comprise of a reduction in the number of junior ministers by eight to 12, a reduction in the number of joint Oireachtas committees and an extension of the Dáil sitting week from three to four days.
The proposals also recommend that no ministerial pensions be paid while a member continues to serve in either house of the Oireachtas, that no special payments be made to senior management in Civil Service or agencies arising from failure to discharge their remit, and that no allowances be paid for committee chairperson, vice chairpersons or convenors.
On Seanad reform, Fine Gael proposed that 20 of the 60 Senators be elected directly by the public.
Five would be elected in each of the Euro constitutencies and the elections would take place every five years on the same date as local and European Parliament elections.
Speaking about the proposals, prepared by the party's environment spokesman Phil Hogan and foreign affairs spokesman Billy Timmins, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the party "will be producing further policy proposals on the wider economy and public services over the coming weeks but before that it is essential that as political leaders we set out the type of changes that we would make to our work environment".
The party also proposed the establishment of an Electoral Commission to oversee the conduct of elections, monitor election expenditure and to determine constituency boundaries. The commission would take on the electoral functions that are currently the responsibility of the Standards in Public Offices Commission.
Asked about the Fine Gael proposals today, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said: "We’re only beginning a process and we’re dealing with financial measures and its very important that the Ministers and the Government now have time to bring that matter to finality and unfortunately you’re going to have to wait until the day of the budget."