Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I regret that we must debate this report. The tribunal should not have been necessary, but that it was is an indictment of the political system. During the debate, most Fianna Fáil Members have discussed their party rather than the people, communities and country we are elected to serve. This is regrettable. As politicians, we are elected to serve all of the people, not just the chosen few, the vested interests or the golden circle. Whatever else comes from this report, we must never allow politics to become the preserve of the rich and those who can fund themselves. It must never become an elitist democratic system. Instead, it should be concerned with everyone.

The Mahon tribunal report shows that certain politicians betrayed the sacred trust bestowed by people when they cast their votes, which is a solemn undertaking. The report has damaged everyone in politics, not just those against whom the tribunal found. Political parties and politicians are judged on many factors. When people vote, they consider our track records, including who we supported and defended and what we did. One of the most important tasks we face as members of political parties is the selection of our leaders. Our decision gives an insight into a party's culture, ethos, standards and tolerated practices. This fact applies across the world.

The Mahon tribunal report has confirmed that three successive leaders of Fianna Fáil - Mr. Haughey, Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Ahern - acted inappropriately at best. According to the report, Mr. Reynolds abused political power and Mr. Ahern's evidence was untrue. Contrast these names with those of Garret FitzGerald, Alan Dukes, John Bruton, Michael Noonan, Enda Kenny, Eamon Gilmore, Pat Rabbitte, Dick Spring and Ruairí Quinn. It is a wide chasm. Why were people who believed they were beholden to others elected to political office? I cannot figure it out. I have read all of the recommendations, but I have not read all of the report.

There is a direct link between the current Fianna Fáil Front Bench and the actions of that party's former leader, Mr. Ahern. He led it in government for 14 years. Whether the Front Bench likes it or not, members of those Governments went out on the plinth and the public airwaves to defend him. Why did the former Minister, Deputy O'Dea, apologise on television this week if he had not tried to undermine the tribunal? Why did Fianna Fáil's current leader and a then Minister, Deputy Martin, castigate the tribunal? I challenge him to listen to his interview with Matt Cooper on Today FM.

Irrespective of our political and ideological differences, we have a duty to uphold the highest ethical standards. We must uphold the law regardless of whether we agree with it. This applies to those who oppose the household charge. We must respect the State, its institutions and processes and, most importantly and irrespective of whether we agree with them, the people we represent.

If we betray standards, there must be consequences. Those who are found guilty of wrongdoing must face rigorous penalties, be they civil, criminal or financial. For this reason, it is important that the tribunal's report become not just an end, but a bridge to changing the culture. I hope that people will be imprisoned, have their pensions removed and be stripped of the dignity they have enjoyed to date. By their actions, they have denigrated every Deputy.

I agree with Deputy Smith, in that the Government must make and implement recommendations on political reform if we are to restore the people's trust in politicians. Elected representatives must understand that, if they transgress, there will be consequences. It is time that we had a new electoral commission to run elections and regulate what Independents and political parties can spend and receive between elections.

I have no difficulty with introducing a blanket ban on donations but we must understand what it will mean for politics. How will political parties and independent politicians fund the democratic system? I am all in favour of State support for politicians because it means everything will become transparent and the responsibility will rest with the political parties and the politicians. Senator Bradford raised an important question when he asked the Seanad if politicians and political parties should stop sponsoring golf events, race nights or sporting and community organisations. If we are divorced from these activities nobody can say, "You gave me X amount of money, so I will look after you".

We should have a real debate about how we fund politics and how we operate rather than merely seeking the cheap headlines certain newspapers and media organisations would love. We saw what happened to the Tories in England last week. The US presidential and congressional election system is enormously expensive. We must never allow our democracy to be taken over by the chosen few.

We must take this report seriously by putting in place the recommendations it contains. The five anti-corruption principles set out in the report are transparency, accountability, top level commitment, public support and monitoring and review. We must change An Bord Pleanála and the planning system from top to bottom. Planning hearings for major developments should be held in public. We can no longer allow the planning process to continue in its current form. At present it gives an indemnity to some. If we have public oral hearings on every major planning decisions, people would be able to see what is happening. That would allow the public to see how the official, the developer and the politician conduct their business. I support the recommendation in the report to put the national development plan and the national spatial strategy on a statutory footing because it would remove the suspicion of political cronyism and manipulation in the development of these important policy areas.

The actions of a few have undermined the political system. We must restore trust through proactive reform that protects the people instead of hiding the few. If Deputy Martin is serious about ending Punch and Judy politics, he should reflect on the comments he made in this House and elsewhere about the tribunal. Politics requires us to serve all the people, not just some of them.

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