Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Perhaps the Minister will let me explain. I tabled a question to the Minister for Transport to ask when the Government decided, as reported in the newspapers, to proceed with this project and I received a letter from the Minister for Transport stating that it is not his responsibility but that of the National Roads Authority. In other words, it is not a Government responsibility, which I find difficult to understand. I tried to raise a question on the Order of Business about the legislation under which this €500 million is being allocated but I was immediately stopped by the Ceann Comhairle and told that the matter was not relevant on the Order of Business because it did not relate to proposed legislation. This is a serious public issue about the way we are allocating money which no doubt will involve some very lucrative contracts, yet I cannot find out from the Government, in any way I know, whether it has come to a decision on the matter even though it is widely reported in the newspapers that it has come to such a decision. I would welcome a change in the Order of Business.

The first level of parliamentary investigation should be where I could ask a simple question, namely, whether the Government has decided to allocate €500 million to this particular project. To date I have not received an answer to that question. I agree with the Minister that we should start in our investigation on something as simple as how we can ask the Government about promised legislation or raise items on the Order of Business.

I am speaking mainly from my two years' experience here because, prior to that, I did not have experience in the various tribunals other than a passing interest as a member of the public. One of my positive experiences in the Dáil, and one of the things which perhaps is not much regarded outside of the House, is the work that can be done in Oireachtas committees. I am a member of both the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the sub-committee that looked into broadband. In credit to all the members of the committee, they did useful investigative work in recent years. There were two particular matters the committee investigated, one following a "Prime Time" programme. The media must be brought into any debate on investigation in society. "Prime Time" is one of the few decent programmes that engages in desperately needed investigative journalism.

Following a "Prime Time" programme on the fish farming industry in the west of Ireland, the committee decided to investigate it further. Fish farmers, various State agencies and anglers' representatives involved were invited to attend the committee. The meeting lasted nine hours and all parties were asked to comment on what was said in the programme. However, a far more extensive presentation was given allowing all parties to hear the issues of concern. Some of these were sensitive and may involve criminal investigations. In this nine hour meeting, the facts behind the issues and the opinions of those involved were put on the record. The significant benefit of this work was that it informed us as legislators in great detail of aspects of the fish farming industry. It allowed the media more access to the details of what the various parties felt about the matter. It also allowed the people and the various bodies in the industry to hear each other in a public forum. When an Oireachtas committee can work like this, it serves a useful function. However, it needs more support more with better research provisions and resources.

Following public controversy with the increase of fixed-line phone charges, the committee invited the telephone companies, the regulators and other bodies to attend a similar meeting. What was meant to be a two hour meeting, turned into a seven hour one. The work of the regulator was examined in detail. It was the regulator, rather than the companies, who was subjected to the greatest scrutiny. Our role as public representatives is to manage those public agencies that come under our remit. I find the committee system of investigation works well.

I recommend one simple change to the committee system to ensure its better working. I recommend that the chairmanships be divided up on the basis of party representation. It would lead to greater stature and interest in the leadership, management and development of committees if a chairmanship was seen as a position with responsibility by a party, be it in Opposition or Government. It would allow Members to prepare for ministerial roles — a future aspiration of us all — by giving them a minor role or control in the overall departmental brief, given that the committees are married to relevant Departments. This is one of the Dáil reforms I want to see. I understand it will be difficult for the Government to give up that bauble, as it is seen under current arrangements. The key to making the Oireachtas more relevant and work better is in the committees system. Ensuring political leadership in the committees will make this work.

Another change, which would be easy in this fast changing technological age, is to ensure that proceedings of the Houses and the committees are broadcast more regularly. There is no reason a channel cannot be available when the Dáil or committees sit to allow people to see the day's business. For example, someone in Connemara with an interest in fish farming could tune into a committee meeting on the matter. The Minister would be surprised how useful and beneficial such a service would be. Such a development would assist our role as investigators as well as legislators.

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