Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I hope the Taoiseach will support the Social Democrats in moving an amendment to this effect in the long-promised legislation we are due to get from the Minister, Deputy McGrath. It has also been more than two decades since our ethics legislation was updated. We are told there are plans for this Government to do so. However, there were also plans to strengthen our ethics laws back in 2015 and they, of course, ran into the sand. The Social Democrats will work constructively with the Government if the Taoiseach is serious about improving ethical standards. Part of that reform must entail removing any doubt at all about the ability of the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO, to investigate the decisions of Taoisigh when necessary.

Earlier, Deputy Emer Higgins surprised many of us by likening the Taoiseach to Santa. Maybe the Deputy was making reference to the rumours the number of Ministers of State will be increased by two - we will see about that. In any event, while I wish all of the newly-appointed Ministers well, even those Ministers would accept this was more the night of the blunt knives than the long knives. However, the reality is the country simply cannot afford the status quo. If we are to have any chance of meeting our climate targets, solving our housing disaster, reforming our health service and helping the most vulnerable in our communities cope with the rising cost of living, we need radical change, not more of the same.

We saw in recent years the best of what our society is capable of in an outpouring of support, empathy and solidarity as we faced unimaginable difficulties. Ireland is a great country with so much potential. I agree with the Taoiseach that we are not a failed State but we have failed policies being implemented by the Government that are simply exacerbating endemic societal problems which desperately need to be fixed. Instead of some cosmetic changes at the Cabinet table, we need real reform. We need to do things differently and we need a new politics informed by the principles and values of social democracy that prioritise prosperity and fairness for all of our citizens.

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