Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is an important subject, one which we thrashed out in the committee. I am sure it will be thrashed out again. What I am disappointed about is the Government’s response has been to create a working group to address the issue. I thought that if the Government was realistic about parliamentary reform it would have come back to the committee with a proposal to involve it in such a working group.

In fairness to Deputy O’Mahony, he said that a majority view was taken. Not everybody agreed with it. I do not wish to speak for other members of the committee but from my perspective and from observations of other members, they engaged in a non-partisan way. We had some very good hearings with people expressing views across the gamut, both for and against the proposal. The report was an accurate refection of the views we heard. The committee tried to bring together as best it could a consensus of views which is reflective of society. I am disappointed that the committee has not been formally tasked with the work that has now been passed on to a group of external advisers.

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