Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take on board the Deputy's sentiments about consultation. For the nine years that I was Opposition Whip there was lots of consultation but there was no Dáil reform. The Dáil reform committee sat and talked but there was never any action or any decisions taken. It is possible to have lots of consultation but I believe we must also have action and results.

One of the first things I did when I became Government Chief Whip was to hold a debate on Dáil reform. That gave an opportunity to every Member of the House to speak. It would be no harm to repeat that process because there were many new Deputies who had been in the House only a month at that stage and who perhaps did not understand the workings of the standing orders of the House, the debates and votes and so on. Now that Members, particularly new Members, have settled in and know and understand the workings of the House we could have another debate. My parliamentary party has had several debates on Dáil reform.

We had one specific meeting recently before I implemented the changes. That is going back two or three weeks but we had a debate at our parliamentary party meeting. It is up to each party or grouping to have their own debates at their parliamentary party meetings. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for his proposals and I thank Deputy Ó Feargháil from Fianna Fáil for his. They gave me two reports as well as actions they are keen to see with regard to Dáil reform. I pledge to have a debate in the House before any future reforms. This will give other Members, especially new Members who now understand the workings of the House, an opportunity to outline what changes they might want.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh made reference to extra sitting days. People say we should be family friendly and so on. I see nothing family friendly in a Deputy having to come from west Cork, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Kerry or Limerick, all of which are three or four hours from Leinster House, on a Monday and then sitting from nine to five on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and perhaps Thursdays. In that case they are away from their families for three or four days and that is not very family friendly, and nor is it family friendly for Members in Dublin to start off at 9 a.m. and sit until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. It is difficult for them to get back to their families. It is difficult to balance the requests.

I was in the Scottish Parliament recently. Business works there from nine to five with committees sitting in the forenoon and parliamentary work and debates in the parliament in the afternoon. It is difficult to balance it and to make everyone happy. It is not the case that everyone will be happy with the sitting hours in the House. However, it is important to try to do our work on the legislative process on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in so far as it is possible. Anyone who wishes can then introduce Private Members' Bills or committee reports to be debated on Fridays.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh is correct that we are messengers of the people. It is important that Members spend time in their constituencies listening to the problems and the voices of the people because this impacts a great deal on our work in the House. Deputy Ó Snodaigh has seen as much himself, especially with the television programme he took part in some weeks ago. It was an excellent programme and I compliment RTE. The programme gave the public an insight into the daily workings of a Member of the Oireachtas. A number of people remarked on the programme to me. It is not only about national legislation. There are also a vast number of queries, such as a person's medical card or various other issues, to be addressed and it is important to give Members an opportunity to do so. We should allow Members time because there are considerable impacts on their lives when they are Members of the House.

I will take up the matter of headphones with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges if Deputy Ó Snodaigh writes to the committee. I will take his remarks on board. I strongly believe that if persons do not agree either way on legislation and wish to abstain, there should be a rollcall on those who abstain. However, these Members should be in the Chamber at the same time and should present themselves to the Clerk or the Ceann Comhairle. I am unsure whether it is possible to have an abstention button but it is something we could explore further.

I was unaware of the problem with regard to publishing Bills; I thought Bills were published in Irish. That is something new I have learned today. I am aware that semi-State bodies must publish all reports in Irish. I had thought that, if requested, a person could get a copy of a Bill in Irish. I realise it is an extra financial burden on the Houses of the Oireachtas and we should bear that in mind when making any decision on publishing Bills in Irish.

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