Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Taoiseach on fulfilling his promise to Fine Gael and the people prior to the last election that he would afford them the opportunity to express their views in a referendum on the abolition or retention of the Seanad. It is refreshing to witness a Taoiseach take a political risk in order to fulfil a promise and long may it continue. I also acknowledge the Dáil reforms this Government has introduced since it entered office, such as increasing the length of time that the Dáil sits by 50%, reducing significantly holiday periods throughout the year, reducing the Taoiseach's salary and Deputies' expenses, cutting the number of Dáil seats by eight in the next general election, reforming the committee system, introducing Topical Issue debates and introducing Friday sittings to allow backbenchers to introduce their own legislation. These are all positive steps.

I urge the Taoiseach to drive ahead with the reform agenda. I welcome that the Government has recently committed to further increasing Dáil sitting hours to allow extra time for debate and that Friday sittings will now take place every second week. Back bench and Opposition Deputies will be given greater access to Ministers in order to hold them to account and to raise issues of concern. We are moving from a system in which Bills come to the Dáil as a done deal to one where committees and the public will have a role in shaping legislation from the outset. I welcome the Taoiseach's commitment to make committees more independent.

It is vital that the Dáil is given additional time to scrutinise EU legislation. In regard to continuing reform, it is important for the democratic process that every Member of the Dáil be allowed a free vote on all moral issues. We need to find a way to allow Members to have more input into proposed legislation and introduce measures to give all Members equal access to speaking time in the Chamber.

See this speech in context