Professor John FitzGerald:

My concern is what Senator O'Sullivan means by teeth. In my view, the Oireachtas is the teeth and, failing that, the Judiciary is the teeth. I would not be happy to hand over to a separate body the responsibility the Oireachtas has to bite the Government. Constitutional law is not my area but what would this body do? Would it lock up Ministers or Oireachtas Members for not delivering a carbon tax? That would not be democracy.

I understand the frustration felt by the 100 citizens of the Citizens' Assembly about what was not happening but that frustration is not just about the Government. The carbon tax cannot be implemented by the Government unless the Oireachtas supports it. It needs the support not only of the governing parties but also of others in the Oireachtas. What does Senator O'Sullivan want this proposed new body to do? The Oireachtas is extremely important and if we are to make progress, its work will also be important. We play a minor role in advising the Government. It is for the Oireachtas to make Departments work properly and to hold them and Ministers to account. It is not clear that setting up an independent watchdog body is feasible. That is my personal view as opposed to the view of the advisory council.