Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have commended the Ceann Comhairle's initiative establishing the task force on safe participation in political life and I am delighted to be a member of it. However, in advance of our meeting on Thursday, I raise in this House the need for us as public representatives to promote civil and respectful debate and to show leadership in these Houses. Unfortunately, in recent weeks, we have seen some really awful examples in this Chamber and on social media of public representatives really pushing the boundaries of respectful political discourse. I am thinking in particular of a debate on agriculture in the last sitting week when certain Members even questioned the right of a Minister of State to be in the House. That sort of behaviour is not conducive to encouraging safe, respectful and dignified debate in these Houses.

Therefore, I ask the Ceann Comhairle in advance of Thursday's meeting of the task force, which I very welcome, that he remind Oireachtas Members of our obligation to show leadership in promoting civil and respectful discourse in this House and in political debate generally.

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