Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

I act as the Whip for the Technical Group, which a bit of a misnomer because the Technical Group is just that and is a way of facilitating a very diverse group and not about whipping people into line or telling them how to vote, which would not be possible with the particular group considering the diversity it contains. However, it does not mean we cannot work together. The idea that diversity equals conflict is nonsense - if anything it gives strength. I believe we will play a strong role in the Dáil in coming years. My role is simply one of facilitation and co-ordination and perhaps we need to find a new term for it.

Everybody here believes there is a need for Dáil reform and wider political reform. While that means different things to different people, it was very strongly articulated on the doorsteps during the general election campaign. We all have different ideas about what that means and how to improve the working of the Dáil. I believe that localism can be a strength in its rightful place, but it is not in its rightful place when there is too much localism at national level.

Without local government reform, there will be no Dáil reform. We are not playing to our strengths. The structure of our local government system does not allow for proper local engagement in respect of identity. The system must not only be reformed, it must be reformed radically. I refer to the abolition of many institutions, including county councils, for example, and having district and regional tiers that could act as a counterbalance to the Dáil in the way that the Seanad was supposed act as such. It could become part of that arrangement.

I was a Member of the Dáil between 2005 and 2007. I lost my seat in 2007 and, therefore, watched the crash from the outside. I, as with all Members, was aware that people were in serious trouble worrying about how they would keep a roof over their heads. From the outset, I was watching a Punch and Judy show taking place. People were not getting a night's sleep, which was outrageous. This is still the case today. We must change the culture in the House to reflect the culture outside if we are to address the disconnect between civil society and the Oireachtas.

This morning the Visitors Gallery was full with very well-behaved schoolchildren. While I am not saying Members should behave all the time and be kept in a nice, neat little box, I believe the Order of Business is no example for people in the Visitors Gallery, including schoolchildren. We must seriously do something about this. Over recent weeks, I have been watching rule-breaking by Members and their efforts to make a contribution. This is largely because there is no proper opportunity to make one. Typically, a disproportionate number of males break the rules in the House. In parliaments that have changed their gender balance, the culture has changed. There is an advantage to this and we should regard it as positive. I am quite supportive of the Government's initiative in this regard.

I accept change will occur in the Dáil in an incremental way and that there will be no radical change in ten or 12 weeks. We need a master plan, however, and to follow best practice in other countries. This morning I was at a meeting with the Chief Whip and assistant Whip. There is some engagement on a range of matters with a view to making a start. In his speech the Chief Whip referred to the new Oireachtas committee which will deal with radical reform. We want to see radical reform and not tinkering at the edges. I am concerned that what will be delivered in the first round of Dáil reform will be all that is delivered. We need a master plan to know what the system will be like at the end of the process so that we can genuinely hold the Executive to account.

The Government side of the House is very big and I sometimes believe it is more a case of the Government holding the Opposition to account than the Government backbenchers and Opposition holding the Government to account. There is more criticism of this side of the House than there is engagement regarding the constitutional obligation of both Government and Opposition backbenchers to hold the Executive to account.

I agree with those Members who referred to the misuse of the guillotine. We must avoid this as much as possible. It should be used only in exceptional circumstances because using it represents bad practice. It does not allow for the scrutiny required and it comes back to haunt in most cases. There are certainly unintended consequences.

The legislation pertaining to the holding of State bodies to account, including the Environmental Protection Agency, HSE and National Roads Authority, has a very significant flaw. I have not seen exactly how change will occur in this regard and would like to hear realistic proposals. Too many functions have been outsourced that should be under the control of the Government.

Members should be in the Chamber to hear answers to their oral questions. The vast majority of Technical Group Members believe this should be the case. Many parliamentary questions for written response pertain to things that do not work. It should be a matter of fixing these problems so citizens will not have to go to a Member of the Oireachtas to resolve issues they should be able to resolve themselves.

I very much welcome the proposal on topical debates. This will make a difference and it will be interesting to see what happens in this regard from the autumn. We do not favour the imposition of limits on the Order of Business because, if there are votes, the allocated time could be very limited. This point has been made at meetings with the Chief Whip.

Given the considerable size of the Government side, there should be parity of representation by Government and Opposition Members on committees, particularly committees such as the Committee of Public Accounts. If an Opposition Member is Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts and if the committee's function is to hold the Government to account, there should be equal representation, although I understand matters tend not be decided by way of vote. Equal representation would act as a safeguard. The proposed membership of committees does not suggest this will occur. That is a serious mistake. I ask the Government to take another look at this. The imbalance in representation is a flaw to which we should not agree.

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