Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I do not doubt that and it raises a question about the role of genuine local government vis-À-vis the Oireachtas.

The DIRT inquiry caused more lustre to be visited upon this House than anything that has happened in the past ten years. It is remarkable we have this elaborate committee structure, yet we cannot replicate a DIRT inquiry on the largest crisis that has ever affected this economy, namely, the collapse of the banking system. There was immediate hostility to the DIRT inquiry, first from Sir Humphrey - if time permitted I would explain my thesis on this - and second from the Law Library. As a result of the Abbeylara judgment, we do not know what kind of parliamentary inquiry would be feasible or debarred.

If we are seen not to introduce into this House a more effective note of accountability vis-À-vis the Executive, we will become to be seen as more impotent in tackling the problems that are now so acute affecting the people. Deputy Bruton set out three tests comprising being able to follow the money, hold power to account and offer leadership.

Serious damage has been done to the standing of this House by the Executive's gradual arrogation of all powers over the past decade, the setting up of quangos for large areas of activity taken out of Parliament's remit and the failure to incorporate any element of parliamentary inclusion in the social partnership process.

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