Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

I welcomed the establishment of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, have been supportive of its evolution and encourage its further progression. Such a body is necessary if the Oireachtas is to fully run its own affairs and exercise its constitutional remit of subjecting Government policies to proper analysis. I congratulate the commission on successfully fulfilling that remit during its short existence. However, I continue to hold the reservations I expressed when the principal Act was being debated with regard to the composition of the commission. Even though the Bill before us clearly provides that members of the commission serve in a personal capacity rather than representing their parties, it is true that the make-up of the present commission reflects the way in which particular groups are represented in both Houses.

Such a state of affairs has meant a lack of success for up to 25 Deputies. Standing Order 114, which has been changed on a number of occasions, most notably in the early 1980s, recognises groups of seven or more Members as being fully fledged political parties. Standing Orders also recognise political parties and their leaders for matters such as votes of sympathy, although I accept that changing Standing Orders is a different debate. As a result of these Standing Orders, my party, Sinn Féin, Deputy Joe Higgins as representative of the Socialist Party and other Independent Deputies who are not members of the Technical Group do not have a direct voice on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, which is unfortunate. I acknowledge that many of the members of the commission go out of their way to inform and consult, but I seek mechanisms which would improve that process.

If the commission is to serve future Dálaí, it will have to take into account the political changes that have occured in this country and give broader recognition to how the Houses run their affairs. Ireland's political transformation is likely to be permanent in view of our increasing adoption of a European model of politics which involves a multiplicity of parties. To that end, I propose an amendment which would provide for an additional member to the commission. A similar amendment was ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle on grounds of cost when I tried to introduce it to the principle Act. I thought that decision was a strict interpretation of Standing Orders so I decided to try again by suggesting the appointment of a floating member of the commission which would alternate over a two and a half year period and would be shared between the Dáil and the Seanad. Such a member could better represent the interests of both Houses on the commission.

I accept that my amendment may be flawed but I hope that, by raising the issue and making Deputies aware of an inconsistency in terms of the commission's operations, consideration is given to the matter in the future. Deputy Howlin has pointed out that the legislation will be revisited in three years' time, at which point the remaining fingers of the Department of Finance may be pried away by whatever Government is then in power.

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