Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I already have mentioned it, I will not mention the RTE programme again. However, the Deputy mentioned the Ceann Comhairle allowing RTE's cameras into the Dáil Chamber to facilitate the "Nationwide" programme that is broadcast after the news at 6 p.m. It was highly effective and worthwhile because it is an honour for any visitor to come into the Dáil. If one considers the number of schoolchildren who do so, both primary and secondary, only a small percentage of the total number of schoolchildren nationwide have the honour of visiting this Chamber. If they are not going to come to the Parliament, Members must bring the Parliament to them. Moreover, it should not only be about the Parliament but more programmes similar to RTE's "Looking After No.1", should be televised.

I agree with Deputy Ó Fearghaíl that there is an undoubted willingness on the part of all the Whips to bring in and to implement change. It is the Government's job to make such change happen and I understand the Deputy might bring forward proposals which Fianna Fáil would not have brought forward when it was in government. It is understandable that its members might wish to bring forward such changes while in opposition. The Government parties would have done the same thing when they were on the benches opposite and they would not have got their way. However, there is give and take on all this debate and on bringing in changes, reforms and so on. I do not wish to be negative about the changes, as one should also be positive about some of the reforms the Government has introduced. They include additional Leaders' Questions, the Topical Issue debate, the Friday sittings, the instruction of Members to enable them to introduce their own Bills, the restructuring of the Oireachtas committees and the new pre-legislative stage. Moreover, this year a number of reforms were introduced in recent weeks. Therefore, quite a number of reforms have been effected if one compares the reforms that have been introduced within a very short time with the preceding 15 years and one should not be completely negative.

The Deputy observed the Government had promised a democratic revolution but when one refers to such a revolution, it is not simply about what happens here in the Dáil. There have been a great number of changes and while I am unsure whether the Deputy is a member of the Constitutional Convention, it is a part of that democratic revolution.

The Deputy said it was refreshing to listen to some of the contributions made at the Constitutional Convention. The number of referendums that are due to be held in the coming period are part of a democratic revolution and part of the change in that respect. I would have been critical of the Constitutional Convention when the idea was first mentioned but I have changed my mind about it. A great number of issues would not have seen the light of day were it not for the Constitutional Convention. Therefore, it must be welcomed. Some of the issues that are brought forward can be a political hot potato but people are being given an opportunity to have their say on them in terms of a referendum. That has been happened as a result of the Constitutional Convention and that is part of the democratic revolution. It will not be possible to change everything in a short period. We are in office two and a half years and we have made a stab at bringing in a fair number of changes inside and outside this House.

The Deputy spoke about the Topical Issue debate. The only issue Members have raised with me about that debate is that not enough Topical Issue matters are selected each day. They would like more of them selected. They have told me that they have submitted a request to the Ceann Comhairle on three or four occasions and he has not granted their request, but he has a difficult job to do. I do not know the number of requests, on average, the Ceann Comhairle would get each week but he has a number in terms of the requests he can select. He must try to accommodate everybody and be mindful not to select all the issues from Members on this side of this House, or from the members of the Fianna Fáil Party or the Sinn Féin Party or from four Independent Members on the one day because he would ridiculed if he were to do that. He tries to share the requests selected among the groupings to the best of his ability, and that is a difficult job to do. I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on the way the business is being run. It is extremely positive and it has been successful. Also, the debate takes place during the heart of the Dáil day. The Minister or the Minister of State from the relevant Department must be present in the Chamber to listen to the backbencher's contribution, and that is important.

The Deputy mentioned those chairing committees. I remind him that he was a member of previous Government when there were 26 committees. No member of the Opposition chaired any of the sectoral committees and nothing has changed in that respect. The only thing that has changed-----

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