Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is not unfair and, with respect, the Tánaiste is doing it again. We published proposals for political reform. I do not know how the Labour Party works, but our group discussed all of our proposals. We set out what we thought was required and presented it to the Chief Whip, the Taoiseach and the other Opposition parties for consideration. We also submitted a specific procedural response to the Government's proposals, outlining how the existing Dáil sitting days might be used more effectively. The proposals included operational and procedural changes.

Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh will address our amendments in greater detail, but I will deal with the principles underpinning the proposals. Reform is required, even if there had not been the huge scandals we saw in recent years but because this system was inherited from the British and, as the Tánaiste acknowledged, has been largely untouched ever since. Citizens, commentators, political representatives - most people - want to see reform from the bottom up in order that citizens have a sense of ownership of how they are governed. We are the messengers of the people who send us here. In a real republic we should be accountable to them, not just at election time but in a real sense every day of the week.

Since the Government came to power, údarás has been emasculated. Local government structures have been disemboweled. We have seen a complete mess of the Seanad reform propositions, including making a complete hames of the Seanad abolition campaign. The Constitutional Convention has not been given proper authority. A big point is that not one element of the Good Friday Agreement has been incorporated in any of the institutions or agencies of the State. All of these measures which are about protection, equality and transparency, which work and are lauded worldwide have not been inculcated into the workings of the State.

I question whether there has been proper consultation with staff - the ushers and administrative staff - on the introduction of the new measures. If possible, I would like a response to this question. Another concern is whether the proposed changes will increase further and reinforce the unacceptable gender imbalance. Has any thought been given to a reduction in the number of Deputies? We were promised a debate on the North, for which I had asked. We propose that a dedicated week long Dáil sitting on the North be scheduled on a regular basis, on a similar basis to the arrangements made for EU week. There are many ideas within the Sinn Féin team and the Government must listen to what we say.

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