Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

That is kind of the Deputy. One of his more famous colleagues told me prior to the election that I would make a very good Opposition Deputy but it is not something I would like to do. I am very comfortable on the Government benches. Perhaps some colleagues have been on the Opposition benches too long to understand what is like to be a Government backbencher but I have spoken out on issues of concern to my community. I have not been afraid to raise issues or make radical points. However, the myth persists that Government backbenchers should troop through the Opposition lobbies during divisions which is a nonsense. The public does not believe that should happen anymore. It is unhelpful to the debate that every now and then Opposition Members say Government Deputies should vote against the Government. That is a nonsense and I will never do that.

Previous speakers referred to the image of the Parliament and the work done in the House. RTE does its best with "Oireachtas Report" and other programmes cover the business of the House. However, much of our proceedings is not covered, particularly committee work. I agree with colleagues who said the Chief Whip's office should redouble its efforts to interest the media in the work of the committees. Many important issues are raised by committees and good work is done, which deserves more coverage. Constituents will always say they were watching television and there were only two or three Members in the House during a debate, which creates a different image.

I have sympathy for Deputy Brian Hayes. The Minister of State has expressed his interest in scheduling a slot to discuss current issues in the House and this also relates to the ability of Government Deputies to raise issues. Very few Government Deputies raise issues under Standing Order 32 and the relevancy of these issues is a subject for debate. For examples, I could raise issues on every street in Tallaght every day under Standing Order 32 but where would that get me? I have sympathy with the notion that we change our system somewhat.

We all welcome the opportunity given to us by the Ceann Comhairle's office to seek Adjournment debates. When debates are granted, the Minister will come into the House with a prepared script, which is needed to provide information, but the debates do not work. I have pressed many issues on behalf of my constituents on the Adjournment. When I am bored I watch the television coverage of the House of Commons, for example, during Prime Minister's Question Time. I watched it yesterday and it was riveting television. The coverage is also interesting on other occasions. The speaker calls for contributions from the floor and members of all parties stand and are called by him or her. I am not sure exactly how the process works but it seems to be some type of rotation system. This means that Government MPs also have an opportunity to raise issues in this quick-fire way.

I do not wish to be too radical but some variation of this procedure would assist parliamentary business and would be helpful for all Members. Government Deputies are always in the position of being somewhat constrained while their colleagues on the Opposition benches can raise all types of issues. We are obliged to find ways to get around this and I, for example, approach the Taoiseach and Ministers on a regular basis. I strongly support reform of Dáil procedures along the lines the Minister of State has indicated to make it easier for Members to ask questions about current issues. I hope I offend nobody in saying that most of us are agreed that the Adjournment debate has become somewhat dated and that a different system is required.

In the past five years I had the honour of being a member of the Oireachtas Committees on Social and Family Affairs and Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights and, more recently, Government Whip on the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. The work of these committees sometimes goes unnoticed. Deputy Ardagh, the excellent Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, has spoken about the volume of good work done by that committee, with particular reference to the restorative justice report. This was a radical project that was piloted in Tallaght and in the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor's, constituency in Nenagh. It showed how an Oireachtas committee could work well and in an innovative way.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children has also gained in importance in recent times. Like Deputy Naughten, I have a lengthy record of service on the former health board in my area. My views on recent changes in this area are on the record and I will not say something different today. Under the old health board system, our questions were answered and politicians from all parties were given notice of current and potential issues. That no longer happens. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children has played a crucial role for Members in filling some of the gaps in information. It has, for instance, been able to summon Professor Brendan Drumm and other officials and has facilitated progress on all sides.

Life in the Chamber generally requires one to be part of the political game. At committee level, however, the relationships between Members from different parties are such that valuable work is regularly done. This is why I object to criticism of the committee system. I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, is conceding that changes could be made for the benefit of the system. I hope he continues on the road on which he has embarked. He has great support, including from Members on the other side of the House, even though they must play the game as they see fit. The Minister of State is on the right track and I wish him well.

See this speech in context