Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise to support the measures before us today. I am a Whip and there is a Whips' meeting every week during which we consult with people and try to reach an agreement. We listen to the views of others at those meetings. I was taken aback to see the leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Martin, come in here, give his rant and then get up and walk out, without listening to people's views in this Chamber. He was very concerned about this motion but then off he went. It is ridiculous.

The Chief Whip, Deputy Kehoe, should be complimented on the Dáil reform packages he has actually implemented. The key functions of this Parliament are to hold the Government to account and to enact legislation. Many reform measures have been introduced, the first round of which were implemented within four months of this Government's coming into office. The Government has brought in a range of measures to make this Parliament work better. Dáil reform involves everyone in Parliament and everyone has a say. The Fine Gael Party debates reform proposals and listens to the different views. The Ceann Comhairle put forward proposals which were considered by the Government. Indeed, every party has put forward proposals which were listened to by this Government. This is an ongoing process.

If one examines what has already been delivered by the Chief Whip, one will see that we are sitting for longer in this House - 33% longer, in fact. There was a time when this Dáil rose in June and did not resume until the last day of September. That is no longer happening. We are sitting longer now. The measures introduced by Deputy Kehoe make the Government more accountable. For example, on Thursday the Tánaiste comes into the House for Leader's Questions, which did not happen before. That makes the Government more accountable. It gives members of the Opposition an opportunity to raise the relevant issues of the day. The Topical Issue debate now takes place in the middle of the day and Members can raise relevant issues, with the topics selected for debate by the Ceann Comhairle.

We need to reach an agreement on where we go from here. Basically, I see Deputy Martin coming in here every week and ranting about Dáil reform, but I do not see the practical measures he wants to see introduced. There is now an opportunity for backbenchers to present legislation for debate in this House and the Government parties have, in some cases, accepted that legislation. That did not happen previously under Fianna Fáil-led Governments. It simply did not happen. That represents significant progress.

The proposals on the pre-legislative process, whereby civic society and interested parties are given a say on proposed legislation, represent major reform. I attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications yesterday, attended by various stakeholders in Shannon Airport. The CEO of the airport, the Clare county manager and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce were given an opportunity to give their views on a Bill specific to Shannon. They were very grateful for that opportunity. That represents a major change and in fairness, Deputy Kehoe should be applauded for that and members of the Opposition should support it.

I attend Whips' meetings and what is said in this Chamber is very different to what is said at those meetings. It does not add up. For Deputy Martin to come into this Chamber and rant about reform while not putting forward proposals of his own is ridiculous. When the debate proper started, he just walked out. He did not listen at all, which is shocking.

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