David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

That is fair enough. I will continue. We welcome what is happening with regard to Seanad reform. The only Dáil reform I have seen in my time in the House has been the arrangement for the Taoiseach not to attend the Dáil on Thursdays and Leaders' Questions being introduced, which was a motion put forward by Fine Gael. There is talk of extending the sitting time to Fridays but I respectfully suggest we do not want more of the same. We need to change how we do our business. We have made two suggestions, including that there be reform of the Dáil for the 21st century. While that is a long-term process, there are other changes that could be made straight away. For example, the Adjournment Debate could be reformed immediately. Currently, no debate takes place on the Adjournment Debate as Ministers and Ministers of State simply come into the House and read out a prepared script, not having heard what people have to say. There is no interaction and Members are not permitted to ask supplementary questions. It is not a debate, it is a farce. One might as well swap e-mails and not come into this House at all. Reform in this area could be introduced tomorrow.

Deputies on all sides would like if they could raise topical issues each morning with Ministers to which they could receive a quick response. This would do away with the raising of matters under Standing Order 32 which, in my view, is a total waste of time because one does not get a response to matters raised.

See this speech in context