Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

There is a major need for radical Dáil reform. I suggest that if that does not happen in the next couple of years the Taoiseach, if for no other reason than to preserve the sanity of the remaining backbenchers in the Fianna Fáil Party, will have no choice but to introduce yet another Bill providing for possibly an additional ten Ministers of State to be appointed to the existing Departments. We need to tackle the manner in which this House operates and the fact that the ability of Deputies to act as legislators is curtailed. If we do not soon introduce major reforms of this House, public cynicism about the way we work and the level of disinterest in politics will increase and as a result fewer people will vote at the next election.

A rather strange crowd is assembled at the back of the Chamber.

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