Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Government for their tolerance. The issue here, as Deputies on this side of the House have raised, is something which we should welcome but which surprises us. We welcome the fact that, on all sides of this House, they are converts to political reform but where did this come from? We got a message from the electorate which was very strong and very definite. It was particularly pointed at that side of the House. It was that there was to be a new politics in this country and that they were tired of the resistance of the major parties to political reform. They wanted something new, different and radical. Let us not pretend that this conversion has been sitting there simmering ready to erupt on the Government side; it has been forced on them. Let us welcome that because that is the message from the electorate. We will participate eagerly and enthusiastically in all efforts, and in the committee that the Ceann Comhairle is setting up today, for political reform in the full knowledge that that zeal for reform has come from the smaller parties and Independents in this House, and not originally from the major parties.

It is only right that the Members opposite be reminded that they spent the past five years resisting that particular policy which they are pretending to champion today. If that committee does not succeed in introducing radical reform by agreement, we will all look like hypocrites who have not delivered a message that has been given to us by the electorate. I want to put the Members opposite on notice that that is the message they should be getting.

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