Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this very important debate, which is possibly a watershed in Irish politics. Despite the newness of this State, we have unfortunately seen corruption extending to the core of our democratic system that has affected the very credibility and integrity not only of the politicians named in the Mahon tribunal report but also of every other elected public representative. Doubts have been cast over public representatives' character and role. It is very disappointing, as a new Deputy, to read such a report at this time.

As with many citizens, I am annoyed and frustrated over the time it has taken for the tribunal to conclude its investigation and the cost. Would it be better to have an Oireachtas oversight system with real powers of investigation that would be more responsive and efficient and give better service to citizens?

The damage to the body politic and representational democracy cannot be overestimated. The Deputies in the Chamber are all new except Deputies McHugh and Michael McGrath. I have always had the greatest of respect for any person who puts his name on a ballot paper in the public interest. Perhaps I have been naïve to some extent because, with the Mahon tribunal, I have seen that the cancer of corruption extended to all levels, including ministerial level. This is a sad indictment of our system.

Deputy Michael McGrath is a relatively new member of Fianna Fáil. I do not doubt his integrity and credibility in any way but, unfortunately, he has been left a dire and devastating legacy by those who went before him. I am not being patronising in saying so because people in Fine Gael have been questioned also. It behoves all of us to purge the system and root out those who are doing down the democratic system for which our forefathers fought so much. I have no doubt they would turn in their graves if they saw the carry-on of recent years.

As a Fine Gael Deputy, I must state I have many good friends in various organisations such as the GAA and on parish committees and boards of management who are active Fianna Fáil supporters. They tell me so quite openly. I can see in them a sense of disillusionment, betrayal, frustration and let-down. I feel sorry for them because they did not engage with the democratic process in order to see these types of outcomes. They have been let down by the people they have worked for and for whom they fought election campaigns. That is most disappointing to see also.

Fianna Fáil must look closely at the legacy it has left the country. It has not just left us with a devastating economic legacy but, more important, it has left us a damaged democratic system with questions hanging over the political system's credibility and integrity.

I do not like the aspersions being cast that our Taoiseach may have question marks over him too, as Deputy Wallace alluded to earlier. Mud is thrown at our Taoiseach because Denis O'Brien appeared near him recently when opening the trading day at the New York Stock Exchange. Denis O'Brien was invited not by the Taoiseach or the Government but the New York Stock Exchange to that event. I say to Deputy Wallace and other Members who might try to cast some aspersions, the Taoiseach is the longest serving Member of the Dáil and has also served on local authorities. There is not one bit of dirt on him. If there were, it would have been dug up a long time ago. The Taoiseach is a man of integrity whose reputation is held in great esteem. He, along with the Government, will restore our international reputation.

It also amazes me to hear Sinn Féin take the moral high ground in cases such as this. I will not let Sinn Féin forget that it had recent and close links to paramilitary organisations involved in subversive activities, money laundering, racketeering and other damaging actions to our fundamental democratic institutions. Sinn Féin will not lecture Fine Gael or take the moral high ground on democratic representation.

What lessons can be learned from the Mahon report? We must certainly look at reforming the planning system. Was corruption only happening in Dublin or was it in other areas too? We need a more transparent and accountable oversight system for planning. It is not just about councillors but also officials who have significant and abundant powers when it comes to planning and zoning.

Some improvements have been made in this regard with the declarations of interest to the Standards in Public Office Commission which is obligatory for public representatives and senior officials. The commission needs to be strengthened more. I referred earlier to strengthening the powers of investigation for Oireachtas committees. They should have the power to call before them senior planning officials, county and city managers and councillors as well as other individuals as they see fit and appropriate. The Standards in Public Office Commission needs to have its powers strengthened too. The former Senator, Eugene Regan, made a complaint to the commission about the goings-on of Bertie Ahern and the large amounts of cash flowing in and out of his office. I cannot say out of his bank accounts because he said he had none. At the time the commission could not pursue the matter until Revenue had made a determination. There is a weakness in our system when the Standards in Public Office Commission needs to be strengthened and empowered to follow up on such complaints when they are made.

I am glad the matters raised in the report have been referred to the Revenue, the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, and other relevant authorities. As a democratically mandated and elected representative, I expect follow-up and results, as do our citizens.

Some Deputies referred to the links between politics and business. We must provide for legitimate engagement where genuine businesspeople or citizens want to support political parties of any hue but which must have proper oversight. For that reason, I welcome the new limits on donations to political parties. The people must decide, however, whether political parties are funded from private donations or from the Exchequer. This is a question that goes to the very heart of our democracy. If parties are funded from the Exchequer, the citizens will pay for it. What is the Opposition's view on this? As we have heard lately, most Opposition Members will criticise any additional expenditure on the Exchequer to try to keep our country going in the present devastating economic circumstances.

A register of lobbyists, like those in other countries, should be established. I would have no difficulty with such a register. It is natural in our job as politicians to be lobbied by various agencies and individuals on legislation and other matters that affect our citizens. What harm would it do if we kept a proper register of lobbyists which would record the matters on which they lobbied Deputies and councillors? This would restore some credibility and integrity to our system.

It does not give me any great pleasure to criticise any public representative. As I have stated already, I admire anyone from any party and none who puts his or her name on a ballot paper. The former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, the former Minister, Pádraig Flynn, and many others have done this State and democratic politics a disservice. They should hang their heads in shame. I hope the relevant authorities will pursue them and appropriate action will be taken. For the future of this country, our children and politics, as well as the need to restore the political syste's credibility, we must purge this type of activity from it.

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