Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I support all three motions. There are various points one could make but I will make just two. In the consideration of Dáil reform we should not confine ourselves completely because how the Dáil works relates to how the Seanad works and also relates to the strength of local government. The decentralisation of power is one of the solutions to the ills of our democracy. It is a question of more democracy, both in this House and beyond it. We will not solve issues relating to Seanad reform or further and better local government reform but they should not be excluded from the consideration of how that process will work.

I agree with Deputy Naughten that we are in exceptional times. Deputy Micheál Martin said the situation is not exceptional. It is not unprecedented, nor is it unique in the sense that there are a number of other countries in Europe and generally across the western world where the political systems are in a very stressed and fearful state because people for a variety of complex reasons are also in a fearful and stressed state. There is a lot of uncertainty. That makes these particular circumstances unique, due to the international environment more than anything else. In those circumstances, on the first day of this new Dáil, we must enter a slight caveat and express a concern. As Deputy Naughten said, we have no ability to ask questions of Ministers. Ministers will attend European Council meetings that are addressing highly complex issues. The Taoiseach will go to the European Council next week to consider migration and other issues that are not everyday issues. This is not a time when an interim or caretaker Government can easily manage the process while not being in a position to take significant decisions.

If we end up in a situation where the public service is the interim Government and it ends up taking very significant decisions with no proper democratic oversight and, in effect, with no democratic mandate, it is something we will have to keep a very close eye on as we go through this process. I just wanted to enter that caveat. It is not unprecedented or unique but I argue that the circumstances are very special, particularly internationally, and require us to take care. They require that any caretaker Government takes care of any actions it takes and that there is a certain urgency in providing the democratic oversight that is needed.

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