Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I welcome Deputy Howlin's reforming motion of substance that we are debating. The motion is so good that taking this Government into account, there is not a chance it will be passed by the House and I regret this because if it were passed, it would be an important signal that this Parliament has the courage to change.

As a society we face formidable challenges, economic and political, and we need to modernise. We need to make our democratic structures fit for purpose. That is the purpose of this particular motion. There is a defensiveness and a deviousness that characterises the Fianna Fáil way of politics. This culture has imbued the system so effectively that even when reforms were introduced by others, they have been successfully emasculated subsequently by Fianna Fáil or those of that gene pool. Those politicians refused to trust the people and now the people sure as hell do not trust them.

In the House, political life has been manipulated so effectively to the point that in many people's eyes we as parliamentarians are a bumbling and costly anachronism. We can do, and we have done, so much better. I am proud of the record of the rainbow Government in which I served as Minister of State. My colleague at that time, Eithne Fitzgerald, strived to open up access to information. The Freedom of Information Act was inspired and progressive legislation. It was grounded on best practice elsewhere but also led the way for others to follow. It was a tremendous legacy for her to leave us. The control freaks in Fianna Fáil could not bear the power the Act gave to the people. Charlie McCreevy dismantled as much of it as he could. This is the same person who as Minister inflated the economy and provided us with light touch regulation which turned out to be no regulation. He wanted to evade scrutiny and accountability and changed the law to suit his outlook. Ireland is now paying a terrible price for his hubris.

I am confident that when the Labour Party is returned to Government, these reforms will be introduced. They must be introduced if we are to ensure that Government, the Oireachtas and the Civil Service work efficiently and openly. How different our country would be if these reforms had been introduced during the boom years. We are learning painful lessons from our past. The Government appears to have learned nothing, however. It is simply irredeemable.

The example of the latest Ombudsman report only serves to prove this point. Since the Office of the Ombudsman was established, it has built up a fine record of work and each Ombudsman, including Emily O'Reilly, has served with distinction as independent watchdog for the public. Sometimes the discomfort caused to Governments was considerable. That said, I do not recall a time ever when a Minister so blatantly and arrogantly dismissed a body of work produced by a person with significant statutory powers. As I recall, Kevin Murphy was the first person in that position to raise the issue of the abuse of the right to nursing home care by the State. To my recollection, this was when the issue was first raised. The Minister, Deputy Harney, did not listen then and she is not listening now.

We must have renewal. The Government is incapable of meeting this task and this challenge. In this motion we have set out the roadmap for a new Government to complete the task.

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