Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the timely production of this report. People have spent a considerable period over the past few days working on it.

It is disappointing that we are giving valuable Dáil time to something like this. However, it is essential because we cannot underestimate the importance of this issue as it shows disregard for the parliamentary process. Unfortunately, it gives the public the impression that a disregard such as this is not the only thing that is disregarded.

Each day when you come into this House it is important to remind yourself of what a privilege it is to be here to represent the people who elected you. Indeed, we are not here as individuals. We are here to represent citizens. Voting for someone else is, therefore, voting not only as a individual but often for people in a different constituency. We must remind ourselves of that.

It is an issue of public trust. Unfortunately, with the mud-slinging that has happened in the past week, primarily between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the conclusion is they are all at it, but we are not all at it. The net point is that there is a number of subjects who are part of this report.

The anger that has been displayed between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, particularly this week, is the kind of more normal engagement that one would have between a Government and the main Opposition party but there is nothing normal about this Dáil and the confidence and supply arrangement. There is a feeling that the votes are not as relevant and there is a marking of time. I would prefer to be debating housing and homelessness, the health crisis, the national broadband plan and, for example, the boil water notice, than talking about this issue and I would like the same anger to be expressed about those issues.

I agree with what has been said by Deputy Connolly regarding Deputy Micheál Martin's response. I am very disappointed with his contribution. It is wide of the mark. Looking at the footage of Deputy Dooley talking to Deputies O'Dea and Niall Collins, we are being taken for fools with the story. It does not stand up. It is not a question of brazening it out. If there is to be integrity in this process, they should fess up. That is what is needed.

On the Dáil record, the idea that a Deputy would know - it is in a different league - that he or she made an error and did not bring that error to the attention of the tellers when they were signing off on the votes is wrong because the Dáil record is wrong then and we have to be able to rely on the Dáil record.

The key issue is that we should not be in this position. There are some reasonable recommendations in this report. There are other things that must happen. There must be consideration of sanctions and that is for a different committee. It is very important to say that is not for this report but the issue has not disappeared. It is important that the public understands that.

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