Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and thank Deputy Peter Mathews for tabling it. The debate brings into focus the repressive whip system we have in Ireland. As outlined earlier from the Government side, the whip system was designed in 1875 by Charles Stewart Parnell. It is not from the last century but the one before that and it was outdated a long time ago. Much of the problem came to the fore during the current Dáil when I sat on the Government benches less than 100 days into its term of office. We had a vote here on the issue of Roscommon Hospital and the commitments that were given prior to the election. On foot of the whip system, Deputies are forced into having to choose between their livelihoods or their consciences, which is wrong. A system that forces people into that position is a failed one.

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