Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I join my colleagues in thanking the Chief Whip and Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, for organising and facilitating this debate. I approach this debate slightly differently from previous speakers in that I was involved with a group which made a presentation to an Oireachtas committee before I became a Deputy. The group to which I refer made a presentation on the reform of the rules relating to gas connections in small towns. Our appearance before the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources was facilitated by its then Chairman, Deputy O'Flynn, and Senator MacSharry. We were able to make our case in a coherent manner and we were challenged by Members in respect of it. This ensured that our case had to be perfect and what we said provoked a major change in Government policy which has allowed many smaller towns to be connected to gas supplies.

My experience at the time showed me how the committee system can work, particularly when individual committees are given specific briefs and engage with organisations and people making cases, be they related to economic or other matters. The interaction between the delegation of which I was a member and members of the committee was a welcome surprise and represents the way forward.

I note the wariness of many long-serving Members regarding committees. I watched the contributions of previous speakers on the monitor and I thought it ironic that the wariness to which I refer seems to be most pronounced among those who may have taken a break from the proceedings of the House during the past five years. These people have returned and are stating that nothing has changed. We must engage in a process to make things change.

I agree with a great deal of what Deputy Johnny Brady and others stated in respect of introducing reforms. The key point is that we must examine the legal basis of the committees so that we can avoid issues which get in the way of what they are trying to do. I refer, for example, to the work carried out in respect of the Curtin report and the report into the Abbeylara shooting. I do not know whether it is a job for the Minister of State or the Ceann Comhairle but an examination should be carried out into the legal basis on which we establish committees to ensure that the issues they consider in the public interest can be investigated without fear of their work being blocked by legal action. If a constitutional change is required, we should use as a deadline for completing the examination to which I refer the two referendums due to take place next year in order that we can strengthen the legal basis of the committees and thereby underscore the legal standing of the work of the Houses.

Previous speakers made many proposals regarding the profile of committees and some stated that no one pays attention to what we are doing. There was a great deal of comment about the lack of media participation. If one looks around the Chamber and, with respect to Members opposite, takes account of the hullabaloo and disagreement regarding committees, there is not necessarily a queue of people lining up to listen to or participate in a debate on those committees.

I would be wary of Deputy Kenny's proposals regarding Oireachtas television. There are already enough people lining up to have a go at the proceedings of the House and the work we do here without giving them what would be the inevitably low viewership figures for such a television channel to support their case. Comments were made to the effect that the state of democracy and the level of accountability in this country are declining. However, the ultimate measure of the state of democracy is the turnout at a general election. We have bucked the trend in this regard and more people are participating in the process of electing Members to the Houses. I would be wary of establishing a dedicated TV station because on each occasion it emerged, the ratings would be used as a stick to beat us in respect of the work we do.

I share other Members frustration regarding the unaccountability of certain bodies but I do not wish to become involved in a debate on who did or did not establish such bodies. I receive letters once a week from the Ceann Comhairle's office to the effect that I cannot table certain questions because the matters in question are relevant to particular bodies. The committee structure must be reviewed in order that representatives of organisations such as the HSE, the NRA etc. can be summoned to appear on a regular basis. When it is up and running, I hope the health committee will invite the management of the HSE to appear forthwith in order that we might investigate what is happening in respect of the health service.

Deputy Brian Hayes and others referred to jobs for the boys and for Government backbenchers. Do I take it from their comments that members of the Opposition are no longer seeking additional positions as chairmen and vice chairmen of committees because they are not interested in those jobs but are rather only concerned with the actual work of committees?

See this speech in context