Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ar an gcéad dul síos, gabhaim comhghairdeas le gach duine eile atá tofa go dtí Dáil Éireann. Is mór an onóir dúinn uile ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar son ár dtoghthóirí. Is cúis bhróid dom a bheith ainmnithe mar iarrthóir do phost an Chinn Comhairle.

Today, 48 Deputies take their seats for the first time. Their arrival is the culmination of campaigns on issues they care for and a cause in which they believe. Those of us here longer share their enthusiasm, but we can also share with them our experience. In my own case, I have been in Cabinet and on the backbenches, in government and opposition, as a party Deputy and as an Independent Deputy.

I understand every perspective in this House because I have lived it. As a committee Chairman and Acting Chairman of this House, I have worked to vindicate the rights of my fellow Members. I have directly engaged in Dáil reform and participated in an informal committee on supporting the rights of Members. I have been more than happy over the years to provide advice and assistance to new Members, regardless of political views, as I firmly believe there is a responsibility on every Member to support less experienced colleagues in doing the best job they can as Members of Dáil Éireann.

I am putting my name forward because one of the messages I consistently received on the doorsteps during the general election concerned public frustration with accountability of the public service and public authorities. In an open and questioning culture, we need an effective and questioning Parliament. Getting straight answers to straight questions is becoming more difficult in Dáil Éireann. This is reflected in that public frustration. Deputies are not just messengers for the people; they are also messengers to the people. This is neither fully understood nor effectively prioritised by our public service. The non-political nature of our public service and the job security of public servants are a strength of the State but in exchange for that security, public services must be accountable to Dáil Éireann through its Members. I firmly believe this accountability is being slowly lost through incremental disempowerment of Deputies.

We can consider the simple example of the Health Service Executive. After its establishment, Deputies had quarterly meetings with the local management of hospital groups and community health services. However, this practice has evaporated completely. The sole means of accountability for officials now is through the Oireachtas joint committee dealing with health matters or through parliamentary questions, the replies to which in many cases take ten weeks. This is a far cry from the accountability required to Dáil Éireann.

The Office of the Ceann Comhairle has a restricted role in the reform of Dáil Éireann but one of the primary functions of the office is to protect the existing rights of Members. This is not just about ruling parliamentary questions out of order or the disrespect demonstrated by a single sentence reply to such a question or referring a Member to a website. This is about the failure to brief Deputies on the actions being taken by agencies such as the HSE. Sometimes the very last person to know about a matter is the very Deputy whose constituents are directly affected. This is both a cultural and administrative issue. It is part of the cultural change on which I want to help deliver in order that Dáil Éireann can become an effective forum for the people who elect us.

We now face a greater threat. The general data protection regulation, GDPR, a tool to protect all citizens, is being used to avoid answering legitimate questions from Deputies. This has far-reaching implications for public policy and for the Dáil. Protections for citizens cannot be deployed as barricades against elected representatives doing essential parliamentary work on behalf of the same people. It is essential for the House to consider this matter.

It would be an honour to be Ceann Comhairle but it would be a greater honour still to use the office, within its confines, to hold, protect and reaffirm the legitimacy of Members of Dáil Éireann to seek answers and ensure accountability. With profound respect for this House, I humbly ask its Members for the opportunity to preside over the House as their advocate and servant. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.

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