This dissertation set out to review the array of Oireachtas Select and Joint Committees created at the start of the 27th Dail in 1993 and reestablished following the change of government in 1995 and to explore their impact on the functions of parliament. To begin with, secondary literature relating to tasks associated with parliaments is discussed drawing on Irish experiences and practices where possible. The many debates on Oireachtas reform over the past twenty years are examined, primarily with a view to learning the views of parliamentarians regarding the specific use of committees. A range of factors which it is felt have a critical impact on the operations of parliamentary committees and their members in a number of countries are presented for consideration. An overview of the Oireachtas committees in existence in 1996 illustrating such features as the role of women, payments to chairpersons and extent of membership by deputies and senators is offered. Two case studies relating to the operations of the Select Committee on Legislation and Security and the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs examine the detailed activities of both these committees for the period 1993 - 1996, highlighting the degree of involvement by members, workload, observations of participants and main players over time, difficulties encountered and a number of observations are presented regarding their operations. The study concludes that the committees offered parliamentarians, government and interest groups a unique opportunity to unleash, enkindle and fuse talents and knowledge from sources hitherto largely removed and uninvolved in detailed public policy formation. The potential benefits available from their employment, however, were severely hampered by th e sheer overabundance of committees with consequent strain on all the stakeholders/players involved, the persistence of government domination in parliamentary output, the continuing emphasis on constituency work by members which tended to place those who wished to pursue an energetic, active role in committee operations, possibly a t the expense of less well-publicised constituency activity at an electoral disadvantage, the failure by the authorities to provide appropriate resources for effective and dynamic output from the committees and the lack of appropriate media recognition combining to dilute their effectiveness. The amendments to the committee system, announced for the 28th Dail are noted, observing that many of the changes flow from the experiences gained from their use in the 27 th Dail which in itself justified their creation and experimentation.