Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

That is not happening. All the scandals which have happened down through the years were a result of the inability to get proper answers to parliamentary questions. It is a matter of this Parliament keeping a check on the Executive.

Is the system we are using for parliamentary questions working? For oral questions, a spokesperson has half an hour, which is all right, and there are 45 minutes for backbenchers. Two or three questions may be answered before having to wait six weeks for that Minister to answer questions again. That is a scandal.

Many of us remember a time when if environment questions were scheduled, every question would have been answered. That is the way it should be. If I put down an oral question for answer, I should be entitled to a response. The chance should not lapse only to be replaced with a written reply of two lines. As Deputy Stanton has said, the Department of Education and Science can then tell an elected Member that the Minister has no say in the placing of a child with special needs. Where are we going with that?

Does the Minister of State mean to tell me that as a result of having a commission, this democracy is working far better but we cannot afford to send a signal into the airwaves so people sitting at home or in schools can see the work of this Parliament? Nevertheless, we can afford to plough up the lawn outside and restore it. We can afford to run a commission.

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