Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on our Private Members' motion on Dáil reform and the urgent need for radical change. I compliment my colleagues in the Technical Group for once again leading in this important national issue and in this debate for the State and for our democracy. The last general election a few weeks ago was about change and new and fresh thinking. This motion is part of that debate. It is time to end the waffle and the talks about talks on Dáil reform and committees. Now is the time for action so let us get on with the job. Once again the Technical Group is the first out of the traps on this issue.

I urge all Deputies to seriously consider our motion and not to be afraid to speak out if they agree or disagree with it. They should put something on the table. So far, I have heard many interesting ideas and proposals. This Dáil reform debate is about our Parliament and country so let us get on with it.

Some people in this country want less democracy and I have concerns about them. Some people say we should put business people into Cabinet posts and into the top jobs in Irish politics. I wonder if they think they are running a business or a country and society. Many of these business people are part of the problem we have today so I would not rush into making such decisions. It might sound popular but there is nothing wrong with people learning their trade in the council and eventually ending up in Dáil Éireann.

It is important to put forward our own ideas in Private Members' time. In my manifesto at the last general election, I put forward proposals for Dáil and political reform. I was pleasantly surprised when I received much support for them on the doorsteps. For example, most people want to create a real democracy with accountability at every level. That is something I heard on the doorsteps. Most people asked if we would come up with a solution to some of the problems the country faced.

I differ from some of my colleagues but I was in favour of a more democratic and reformed Seanad rather than abolishing it. I said during the general election that we should transform the Seanad into a genuine forum for civic society within 12 months or if we were not going to do that, we should abolish it. We did not debate that proposal adequately. There is room for a more democratic second Chamber to keep an eye on the way the country is run.

Let us be very careful about winding down democracy, whether in city hall, Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann, because there are elements in society which will use it for other reasons. We should reform for efficiency and accountability but we must be very careful in how we proceed.

In regard to the Dáil, we should end the use of the guillotine to pass laws which have not been scrutinised. We should give Dáil committees powers to examine proposals for spending before it happens and to hold real inquiries by giving them the power to compel witnesses to give evidence and provide documents. I would also like to make senior public servants responsible for their decisions and actions. I am reminded of a principal running a primary school. Much of the time the buck stops with him or her in regard to the administration of, and issues in, the school. If anything goes wrong, he or she takes the hit and if something positive happens, he or she gets the credit. However, the principal is accountable and there is no reason this could not happen at the level of senior public servants. That is lacking at present.

I strongly favour bringing real transparency to the funding of political parties. Parties should publish their annual accounts. I would like a register and control of lobbyists, protection for whisteblowers, to make all appointments to State and public bodies and the Judiciary open to public competition and Dáil scrutiny and to ban any individual from being a director of more than three companies or public bodies. I urge the Minister to look at those proposals. A Government with an open mind would look at some of these proposals.

I would like an urgent review of company law to ensure white collar criminals are brought to justice, although the process has begun here. We should bring back the original Freedom of Information Act. We should consider seriously these proposals.

In regard to the debate on city and county councils, I was elected to Dublin City Council in 1999 and like many contributors to this debate, I was amazed by what I saw. However, I also learned much and about the importance of local government. We need more radical and efficient local government. Local government plays an important role and I fully support many of the views expressed on these issues.

In regard to the debate on the committees, during my first term, I served on the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights where much work was done on the Barron report and the disability legislation. I worked with the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. Much good work has by done by committees and let us not forget to say that. However, that does not mean we are not up for reform and change. I fully support the proposals from many of my colleagues. There is much potential for these committees to get on with the job.

The Government should be a little more inclusive and democratic when it comes to dishing out the jobs on these committees, in particular in regard to Members from the Technical Group. It is important there are strong independent voices on these committees to reflect the democratic nature of this House. If we are serious about change, that is an option.

In regard to changes to Dáil structures and in the Chamber, I fully support some of the proposals on Dáil reform put forward by my colleague, Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, in particular questions to the Taoiseach and Ministers. I also fully support the unqualified and urgent desire of the people to rebuild Ireland's political system into an effective, accountable, transparent, representative and participatory institution. There is a critical need for immediate and meaningful Oireachtas and local government reform. Dáil Éireann has a clear constitutional role to hold the Government to account. I urge Members to support our Private Members' motion and I thank my colleagues for bringing forward some sensible suggestions.

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