Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this important Private Members' motion. It is a great opportunity to debate what we feel is a better way to do business. Having worked in the Seanad for four years prior to being elected to this House, I often wonder at the way it approaches business, especially the Order of Business and issues relevant to members' constituencies. What happens here leaves much to be desired compared with what happens in the Seanad.

The most important aspect to reform of the Dáil and the way it does its business is that it should be relevant to the public. We are here as servants of the public. It is a great honour to be elected to this House. To represent people in any national parliament is a great honour, something which happens to very few people. When elected, we have a duty to bring the views of our constituents to the Houses of the Oireachtas in the strongest way possible. Whatever the issue of the day, whether local or national, Deputies have a duty to bring it to the House. We need to be facilitated to do so. We must be facilitated by way of the Taoiseach or Cabinet Ministers answering questions relevant to the people we represent.

Thursday, when the Taoiseach is not present, is a different Dáil day from Tuesday and Wednesday when he is present and can be asked various questions by different Members. The fact that the Taoiseach is not present demeans the House. In light of the debate tonight and tomorrow night, I urge the Taoiseach to be present on Thursday rather than travelling throughout the country. I am aware that, as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, he must travel to meet people, but this is a House of Parliament and we expect him to be present to listen to as many of our views as possible. Members of the Government should listen to this debate and ensure this happens.

Many other issues need to be addressed. Standing Order 31, which is read out here on a regular basis, must be reformed. Today I raised the issue of 30 job losses in Tipperary town and 60 in Carrick-on-Suir. Some 90 to 100 families will be affected when these people lose their jobs in the next three weeks or month. When I raised the issue in the House today, I was asked to move on to the next business. I sought to raise the matter on the Adjournment tonight but there were more pressing issues to be dealt with. Requests under Standing Orders should be answered by the relevant Minister because each has first-hand knowledge of the issues. The Tánaiste is well aware of the issues in Tipperary to which I referred. There is no reason she could not have given me a satisfactory reply when I raised the issues today. Matters on the Adjournment must be examined. If one is fortunate enough to have something selected for the Adjournment debate, the Minister responsible should be present to give the matter the attention it deserves.

Those of us who served on county councils and gave up our seats believe the Dáil should be a much more relevant forum, whether it discusses local or national issues. I recall my time on the county council when notice of motions allowed people to obtain a proper response to issues raised within a few days. Parliamentary questions should concern anything that affects our constituents. There is no point receiving answers stating that matters are not the business of the Minister. All these issues are the business of Ministers. I received a reply recently regarding my local radio station. I was told it was not the business of the Minister, rather that of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. The Minister established the BCI and should be ready and willing at all times to answer such questions.

There is the issue of reform of the Dáil. It is important for future generations of people elected to this House to make life easier and more pro-family. We should not have to work late into the night. It is sufficient for the Dáil to sit in Dublin for three days and the other days to be set aside for constituency work. I began work in my constituency at 8 a.m. yesterday morning and finished at 12 midnight. Certain work must be done. I would not offer myself for re-election in the future if I could not give that time to my constituents.

I am pleased the debate is taking place. We must be much more forthright in the way we plan our business. We should not try to knock people from different sides if we have a different point of view. There are just 166 Deputies in the House. For the benefit of future representatives and the future of democracy, we need to make the House more amenable and accessible to the people who work here. The Government, Taoiseach, civil servants and back-up staff must be ready, willing and able to assist ordinary Members who represent their constituencies.

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