Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach has been a Member of the House long enough to know that this has become a farce. There was one occasion on which a senior Minister was in a licensed premises near the Dáil when the case of a man who had been murdered was discussed in the House. The Minister in question should have been present for that debate. The Taoiseach may recall that famous incident which was raised by Deputy Allen at the time.

The Taoiseach and I know that serious reforms are required in order to make the House more responsible and accountable and its workings more transparent. One area in respect of which reform is required is that to which Deputy Gilmore refers, namely, the Adjournment debate. The Minister of State, Deputy Carey, has responsibility for this matter but we have not yet seen the colour of his eyes in respect of it. There are a dozen reports in his office — from Government and Opposition parties — in respect of some of which there is a large measure of agreement on how we could make the Dáil more interesting and relevant. It is his responsibility to ensure action is taken on the recommendations made in them. I hope he will take on board the urgings of the Taoiseach and ensure such action is taken.

Under the current system, if Deputy D'Arcy wishes to raise a matter on the Adjournment tomorrow and the Ceann Comhairle allows him to do so, someone in the relevant Department will prepare a script which might not necessarily deal with the issues in respect of which the Deputy is seeking information. There is a solution in this regard, which is contained in one of the reports sitting in the Minister of State's office. The Labour Party and Fine Gael are in agreement on that solution and I am sure a large number of Fianna Fáil Members would concur with it. Under the proposal to which I refer, a second or third question could be put by the Deputy raising the original matter. When are we likely to obtain a comprehensive package from the Minister of State who has responsibility for this matter? He could make a name for himself by reforming the Dáil and making it exciting and interesting in order that Members would want to come into the Chamber to raise matters and receive replies in respect of them.

The Government should treat this as a matter of priority. I accept that it has various economic issues with which it must deal and challenges it will be obliged to face. However, the House has in many ways become irrelevant to the Government which chooses to make all major announcements relating to legislation and other matters outside it. In many instances and from a Government point of view, the Dáil is treated as a place where one should not be. The Taoiseach has been involved in politics for some time and is aware of this. Will information on this matter be forthcoming before the end of next week or will we be obliged to wait until October for the Minister of State to outline his proposals? I accept that, in the context of Dáil reform, the said proposals may receive a large measure of support from Members.

What is the remit of the Office of the Minister for Children? I am concerned about the comments made by the DPP last weekend in regard to his inability to take prosecutions in the absence of a referendum on children. It seems that the changes of personnel on the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children in respect of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith, have brought about a serious change of attitude, and not for the good, towards the progress it was making previously. More than two years ago, my party pointed out that a hole existed in the Constitution and that a referendum was required to plug it, but the matter appears to have stalled.

Has the Taoiseach instructed the Minister of State with responsibility for children that his primary responsibility is to ensure this House deals with the issue of a referendum for children so that young boys and girls do not become the victims of sexual predators? When somebody of the eminence of the Director of Public Prosecutions is unable to proceed because of a requirement for a referendum, surely it should be the responsibility of this House to progress the matter.

From my party's point of view, we submitted our proposals by the date requested but matters seem to have stalled and I ask the Taoiseach to have a word with the new Minister of State with responsibility for children. Can he confirm that it remains his intention to hold a referendum on children's rights, either on strict liability or the broader issue, and, if so, when will it take place?

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