Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for bringing forward the legislation. This is an expression of or testimony to the fact that there is now a stirring of conscience in the country. However, it is not enough that there is a stirring; as Deputy John McGuinness stated, we should now be fully awake. It is our duty, as politicians and legislators, to encourage this process. There seems to be a never-ending sequence of cases that are heart-rending and embarrassing in their import. The story of Louise O'Keeffe is just one; years after the shocking abuse she had suffered as a little girl, she went through the courts system to describe what had happened and the system shut her down and buried her under potential costs. That is a recent example and the resolution of the issue took place outside the country in the European Court of Justice. Shame on us that it happened at all.

The suppression of conscience has occurred through Establishment groupthink. Only a couple of days ago, on 18 February, one of the shortest Bills ever seen in the House was brought before it. It would be a further development along the lines of what Deputy James Bannon mentioned. Article 28.4.1° of the Constitution states, "The Government shall be responsible" to the people of Ireland, but the proposed Bill, the Thirty-Fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014, states the Members of each House - there are two - "shall be representatives of the whole people, not bound by orders or instructions", which would relieve them of the oppression that has been experienced in this country. They would be "responsible only to their conscience". When our consciences awaken, we will do the right thing. This would not forbid policy making by parties, agreements or coalitions, as some might carelessly or gratuitously argue. It just means that when we came to the raw brass of duties and responsibilities, one would not suppress one's conscience.

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