Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I have no doubt the Deputy will be able to raise the issue of bondholders when he is debating the Private Members' motion on special needs services this evening. Deputy Adams is here on a daily basis asking direct questions to the Taoiseach. I assure him the Taoiseach has answered any question put to him by Deputy Adams directly and truthfully.

The Taoiseach is not afraid to come to the House to answer questions. It is interesting that Deputy Adams asked the Taoiseach about the measures he has put in place to ensure the accountability of the Government to the Oireachtas. This is what I outlined. In his supplementary question, Deputy Adams did not outline what we have proposed for Dáil reform. I understand the Deputy is new to the House but he has been here for four or five months and he should be well able to understand the workings of the House. In his supplementary question he criticised the Taoiseach. The Deputy's question is on Dáil reform and better working of the House. This is what I would like to introduce and we will introduce it, next week and when we return in September. The Government will be held more to account when we introduce a range of reforms.

I have also met the Sinn Féin Whip and he has outlined some of his proposals on Dáil reform. Some of them have been taken on board, as have proposals made by other parties and groups. We will introduce meaningful reform that will make a difference to the House. It will make the Government more accountable and the work of the Parliament more achievable.

The most important role of the House is to legislate. People give out that there is not enough time to debate legislation. However, on a daily basis people call for statements on reports. I have no problem with this but Members cannot have it both ways. Either we debate legislation or we speak about the cat running across the road.

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