Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue of Dáil reform and I welcome the proposals outlined by the Government Chief Whip. However, I am disappointed by the narrowness of the Fine Gael motion in encouraging the Taoiseach to be present in the House on Thursdays. However, given the competent performance of the Taoiseach on Dáil questions and during Leaders' Questions, the Opposition would be better off if he were not present because he makes them look very silly most of the time. If he were present more often, they would look even worse than they currently do.

On the issue of Dáil reform and the Chief Whip's proposals, I hope the other parties will regard them favourably and support them. I wish to refer to a number of issues. The first is that this is not just a legislative but a representative Chamber. It behoves all of us to defend the work of Deputies in constituencies. Too often we kowtow to people who like to undermine the work of a Deputy in his constituency. It is an important part of representative democracy that Deputies are available to meet constituents not only as individuals but as groups. If we claim to represent the public, it is important that we are able to meet and interact with those people, hear their views and concerns, and raise them in Parliament when an opportunity arises.

I generally welcome the topical debate announcement by the Chief Whip because this will be an important instrument in allowing Deputies to raise issues of importance in their constituencies or at national level. I hope all the other parties will support this. We have the farcical situation of Deputies raising matters under Standing Order 31 every day. I understand the frustration of Opposition Deputies in trying to raise issues and being ruled out of order. We must move to a situation where a Deputy can raise an issue, it can be responded to in a forthright manner and there can be interaction between the Deputy raising the issue and the responsible Minister. That is an important proposal. I urge the Opposition to look on this positively.

On the question of longer sitting hours, we must accept that Deputies have duties outside Dáil Éireann to their constituencies. I welcome longer sitting hours which will increase parliamentary time to 30 hours a week. That will enable us to push through more legislation and to have longer debates in which more people can take part. One of the complaints we hear, especially in Fianna Fáil because it is such a large party, is that backbenchers often have difficulty in getting time to speak.

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