Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle, agus gach dea-ghuí i do phost nua. As a new Deputy, to say I was disheartened to see this in front of me would be an understatement. To be expected to come in for a sitting and to have statements is an absolute farce. We need questions and answers. Ministers are being paid out of taxpayers' money, so we are entitled to answers. In addition to that, on our way in here this morning, most of us passed people on the street not too far from the gates of this building. It is not good enough. I represent my constituency in which there is a serious health crisis, as there is around the country. We have questions and we are entitled, as elected Members, to pose questions. The people who were elected to those positions are expected to answer them at the very least. I do not accept this and I concur with everything that members of my party have said here today. I ask that parliamentary questions be included in that. Obviously, those Ministers will not form policy but there should be accountability. For decades, there has been no accountability of Governments. Hopefully, that will change but it will certainly not go unnoticed with us in Sinn Féin.

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