Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The debate on Dáil reform is necessary and welcome. However, reform should not be just talked about; it must be delivered. I was elected to Roscommon County Council in 1999 and am aware of the work done by councillors in local authorities throughout the country. Many are also members of vocational education committees, regional authorities and county enterprise boards. Many people do not take a great interest in their work or that of politicians in general. The findings of various tribunals, particularly in respect of the corruption of certain members of one political party, mean politicians have lost the trust of the people. The tribunals took away respect for politicians because people no longer trust them or politics in general.

This debate must offer a new window of hope. Deputy Wallace observed that when people do not like what a politician does they can vote him or her out. Unfortunately, this country is run by the HSE, the NRA and others who were not elected by the people but held the ultimate power. If one wants a medical card or a bed in this country, people should not go to politicians but to someone within the system. In Ireland we have a very strange view of how politics works. People want politicians to be as white as snow but they also want politicians to break every rule in the book to get people what they want.

When canvassing over the years, people who had returned from the UK never entered into talk such as "Good man Frank" or " That's a lovely dog" or "That's a lovely garden". They wanted to know about the party manifesto and when they received the manifesto they read it. If they had any questions, they raised these issues. In 99% of cases, locals never asked what about the manifesto or for what the candidate stood. They used to say that they knew the party or that they knew the candidate. In Ireland we deserve a little better. With the new Dáil and Seanad we will get better.

I hear people say that I am not shouting loud enough but it is not about shouting loud enough. It is about listening to the people and delivering without being controversial. In politics, one has a personality and one represents people through one's personality. If one is a wild man, one should be that. Members should try to be honest with people.

When the Taoiseach announced reform of the Seanad over 18 months ago, he was ridiculed. I was at the dinner that night and there was shock among many politicians and people in the Fine Gael Party. He made a forthright decision to abolish rather than reform the Seanad and it is up to people to decide that matter in the coming months. I remember a report on reform of the Seanad produced by a previous Leader of the Seanad. I said to a man at the time that it looked like the Seanad was going to go but he said that we should pay no heed to it because it was just another report. The people became sick of reports and we must reform. I welcome the reform. We must be open and honest with the electorate. I thank the Opposition because they must oppose. We must oppose when issues are wrong and we must work together when the goal is good for Ireland Incorporated. I welcome Dáil reform. As a Government, we must deliver. If we say we are going to do it, we must do it.

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