Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, it has to be said that when the Fine Gael proposal to abolish the Seanad was defeated, the central reason was the refusal to consider more wide-ranging political reform. It has taken far too long to set up this committee. It is rather bizarre that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, decided to sit on the committee. Some believe it was his last-ditch effort to stop Senator McDowell. I do not know what that is all about, but I think it is unbecoming of him. He needs to focus on his job. He should do something about the second runway in Dublin Airport, the most critical issue in his remit. Meanwhile, he is on every committee, nipping into other ministerial portfolios than his own.

On the reform issue, I put it to the Taoiseach that at the commencement of this Dáil we outlined a series of ambitious reforms for this House. I ask the Taoiseach to reflect on the supports that we are giving the Oireachtas in implementing those reforms. The Parliamentary Budget Office is up and running, but I recall that there was about a year's delay in approving the head of that office, with questions around the level within the public service they were to be accorded and whether they were to be at assistant secretary or deputy secretary general level. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform initially insisted on a principal officer grade for that post. The same concerns apply with the Office of the Parliamentary Legal Adviser. It should be an independent office of note in regard to the quality of the people recruited and the level to which they are recruited.

Dáil and Seanad reform will need resources. I ask the Taoiseach to convene a meeting of the party leaders to reflect on the progress we have made since the commencement of this Dáil. For example, there was an offer of assistance in the drafting of Opposition legislation in order to ensure that the final measures passed by the House are of a higher quality. The Taoiseach has justified the Government's blocking of legislation from the Opposition on the grounds that he felt it to be poorly drafted. That would not be an issue if there was more comprehensive assistance available as these offices develop and are strengthened.

The programme for Government also promises to evolve better methods of sharing information from Departments with Deputies. In reality, the sharing of information has become much worse. Briefings which were once common have now nearly stopped. Information is now mainly shared via planted stories in newspapers, rather than any accountable forum. Can the Taoiseach outline the proposals he is bringing forward to implement the commitment to being more open in sharing information?

Finally, I note that the Taoiseach recently lectured Ministers about leaking Cabinet information. In a spectacular U-turn from his practices as a Minister, he has decided this is not to be tolerated. Can he say what steps he is taking to find and punish the leakers?

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