Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I thank the Leader of the House for the warm welcome she has given to this motion and for using her influence in the major Government party to win support for it. I commend Senator Tuffy on bringing forward this important motion. As Senator Ryan said, she has been dogged in her determination.

It is opportune that we should debate it at this time, against the background of a discussion of politics, public life and the public's reaction to politics and politicians. The biggest joke at a social occasion I attended last Sunday was that in Ireland we have the best politicians money can buy. I did not find that funny and I do not like that kind of remark. We have been the butt of cynical jokes for a long time, not just at the moment. A petitions committee would not, in itself, restore public confidence in politics and politicians but it would have a positive impact. It would indicate that we are willing to reach out and listen to people.

I agree with everything Senator O'Rourke said and I agree that we should get started on this initiative as soon as possible. We need to create mechanisms to allow the public understand that they have an input into the system.

Consider the manner in which the Health Service Executive was established and before it the National Roads Authority. Democratically elected politicians have been removed from the process of decision making and accountability in important areas of Irish life. The health boards are gone and the system did need reform but I do not believe it was necessary to remove a whole layer of democratic accountability. This has contributed to politicians' frustration in trying to get answers on the health service and I believe it has added to the public's frustration and sense of distance from the decision making process. This kind of approach is regressive and is having a negative impact.

Large numbers of people protest in places such as Monaghan, Ennis and Nenagh partly because they feel the decisions made by bodies such as the HSE are undemocratic and that those in charge cannot be held to account. This engenders a sense of frustration and powerlessness in communities. This motion is, therefore, very important.

This Seanad and the previous Seanad will have heard me raise the issue of the Silvermines on more than one occasion. Thanks to the determination of a number of people and the willingness of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dempsey, to listen, we have, effectively, resolved that issue. When I started working with that group some years ago it did not know where to go or who would listen. I suggested we would take the issue wherever necessary, be it the floor of the Seanad, the committee or to the Minister. The general reaction was that no one would have any reason to listen. It worked, as it should in that case.

An elected representative, supported by other elected representatives, was able to raise an issue and have it resolved, thus providing a very good example of how a community got heard. The process is not available to everybody and many feel excluded from it in that it does not work for them. In such cases, the petitions committee would serve as a very important arena. It has become increasingly important because of the examples to which I referred.

Senator Tuffy provided an example from abroad of children coming forward with their idea and I was heartened to hear about it. It is not just a case of considering big, high-flown ideas, although they obviously would be very welcome, but also of training young people and children to understand how the democratic process can work for them and showing them they can have a direct input. We could work with the Ombudsman for Children in this regard. I would not be surprised if we had a proposal from young people to extend the remit of the Ombudsman for Children. Perhaps we could consider this as well.

Feelings of disconnection from democracy and powerlessness are on the increase. As Senator O'Rourke pointed out, elected representatives are negotiating with State agencies, local authorities and, in many cases, non-State agencies on behalf of the public. This is obviously our role and it is very important and I do not believe a petitions committee would detract from it or dilute it in any way. As Senator O'Rourke stated, it would broaden and expand participation and bring the Members of the House closer to the people. It would create an avenue for connection and dialogue and, I hope, allow people to realise it is possible to influence the system. I hope it might engender some idealism about politics to counter the cynicism of the times.