John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)

I welcome the opportunity to speak today on behalf of the Labour Party section of the coalition on the motion to change Standing Orders. The changes, which are proposed to take effect from 14 September, are the first step of the Government's plan for the radical reform of our entire political system. Both Labour and Fine Gael gave a commitment in our election manifestos to reform how business is done in this House to make it more efficient, effective and accountable. These reforms were endorsed by the electorate and are reflected in our programme for Government. We have been given a democratic mandate to implement these commitments and we are delivering on them.

These changes also reflect the contributions of the members of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, who have contributed much to these changes. This set of proposals also reflects input from the Opposition Whips. Based on my recent experience as Labour Party assistant Whip and being a member of the CPP, there seems to be a very positive relationship between both sides of the House and I commend everybody on their efforts and on voicing their opinions. I would like to think those opinions have been listened to.

I also thank the Ceann Comhairle for his detailed contribution on these changes. His experience and advice have been invaluable in the formation of these measures. I know I speak for Deputy Stagg in saying that we look forward to giving further consideration to more of his proposals in the autumn.

There is a long history of work done on these issues with no outcome, but this time it is different. This time we have real positive proposals for change in how we do business in this House. With these proposals we are undertaking to make better use of the time available to us in this House to legislate and to hold the Executive to account.

While some of these points have been made already, it is important to point out the changes that will be implemented in September. The Dáil will commence earlier on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. Topical issue debates will replace the current Adjournment Debate. The Standing Order 32 procedures for raising urgent issues will be reformed. A time limit will be introduced for the Order of Business. We will provide for Leaders Questions to be taken by the Tánaiste on Thursdays. A new procedure will allow Dáil Deputies raise issues regarding replies to parliamentary questions. There will be changes to Taoiseach's Questions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There will be extra Dáil sitting days on the first Friday of every month to provide time for Deputies to introduce their own Bills.

It is important to note the origin of these proposals. These commitments were given in the respective manifestos of Labour and Fine Gael. These proposals came from parties which had spent 14 years in opposition and witnessed 14 years of inaction on Dáil reform. This experience of opposition means that the changes are in the interest of those now in opposition. There is therefore a large measure of agreement on these measures because of the origins of the proposals.

We know the Dáil must be able to hold the Executive to account, and this first step and the steps to follow will greatly strengthen the hand of Dáil Éireann in that regard.

Two of the measures of this reform agenda are crucial to how we function as a Parliament. The first relates to the primacy of power being held by elected public representatives. In recent years, power has been taken from the House and transferred to nameless persons holding positions in unaccountable bodies. This was a policy instrument to abdicate Government responsibility and weakened our parliamentary democracy and the power of the people.

In autumn, the Government Whips will start work on the next phase of Dáil reform in consultation with the Opposition Whips. The next step in the programme for reform will concern returning more power to the Dáil. In this we will propose to return to Deputies the right to raise parliamentary questions on the activity of the bodies to which I referred. Since these bodies deal with the people's money, the people are entitled to ask questions about how it is spent. This is an undertaking in the programme for Government and will mean that Members will be able to ask questions of and get replies from Ministers who have quangos under their remit. My colleague and deputy Government Whip, Deputy Stagg, recently told the House that "real power in democracy is the power to ask a question and get an answer". I agree with him that this feature has been removed in recent years by the reduction in the Chamber's power. We propose to return that power.

We also propose reforms relating to the standard of information to be provided in response to parliamentary questions. Procedures will be introduced for Deputies who have issues with the details of replies to their parliamentary questions. These issues will be referred to the Ceann Comhairle to decide if reasonable information has been provided. The Ceann Comhairle can refer a matter back to the Minister with a request for further information. If the reply from the Minister is still unsatisfactory in the view of the Deputy who originally asked the question, he or she can request that the Ceann Comhairle schedule the issue as a topical issue debate. This fair appeals procedure will increase the power of Deputies to access information and fulfil their roles as elected representatives.

There will be Friday sittings for Deputies to introduce their own legislation. This is probably the most important element of Dáil reform as it constitutes the creation of a new parliamentary space for non-officeholders to legislate. From September, the Dáil will sit on the first Friday of every month. This sitting will be designed to provide time to consider Second Stage of Bills introduced by Members. Any Deputy who is not a holder of ministerial office and who has published a Bill can submit it to be debated in the Chamber on one of these Friday sittings. Bills submitted will be selected by a lottery system a minimum of two weeks before the sitting day on which the Bill is to be debated to allow the proposing Deputy and the Department concerned to prepare. No vote will be held during these Friday sittings. Rather, they will be held on the next sitting day after the Order of Business.

This Friday time will be much in demand and there exists the possibility to introduce approximately eight to ten new Bills each year. It will give significant additional powers to Opposition parties and increase involvement by non-officeholders through contributing legislation.

This is the first step in a programme of reform to be implemented over the lifetime of the Government. The introduction of a Dáil reform package just four months into the Government's life shows a genuine commitment to deliver on reform. We are delivering on our commitments outlined in the programme for Government to sit longer and do more. With this and other measures, we will bring greater effectiveness and accountability to how we do business. After more than a decade of inaction, the issue of Dáil reform is not only back on the agenda, real progress is at last being made on the issue.

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