Tags: appointed, chairman, Cork, Ireland, Joint Administration Committee, Ned O'Keeffe, politics

DEPUTY Ned O’Keeffe has been appointed chairman of the Joint Administration Committee.

In his role as Chairman, Deputy O’Keeffe will be responsible for managing the work of the committee which deals with the services provided to the members of the Oireachtas such as secretarial facilities, library and research services, legal advice, the management of the Oireachtas premises in Leinster House and communicating the work of the Oireachtas.

Deputy O’Keeffe already sits on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution and the Committee of Public Accounts.

“There is a lot of work for the Administration Committee to get through in the coming months and I’m really looking forward to tackling this challenge,” said Deputy O’Keeffe.

“It’s an honour to be made chairman of any Oireachtas Committee but the Administration Committee is especially important given the role it plays on the work of the Oireachtas and the impact it can have on Irish democracy.

“I have already begun canvassing my colleagues to see what can be done to improve the workings of the Oireachtas and where we should be looking to make changes.  I hope we will be able to bring forward a strong programme of work that will improve the operations of Leinster House and make both the Dáil and the Seanad more appealing and open to the Irish public.

“I’d also like to hear from members of the public, particularly the people of Cork if they have suggestions on how we can improve the way the Oireachtas runs. If anyone does have any ideas I’d like to hear them.

“There will certainly be a lot to do but I’m delighted to have been chosen as chairman and I look forward to getting on with this new role,”he concluded.