Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I was unavoidably delayed and I have tried to check that none of my colleagues referred to the TASC report on which many of the newspapers commented this morning. The report in question was issued by a think-tank that was established some years ago and it criticises the manner in which government in general and the parliamentary system operate. Members on all sides have raised this issue from time to time. Will the Leader, particularly in light of her zeal in this area and the initiatives she has put in place to reform the Seanad, consider making time available to consider this report after the Easter recess?

This is an important issue in the context of the future of democracy in this country. I urge all politicians, particularly those in this House, to obtain the report — Power to the People? Assessing Democracy in Ireland — to which I refer because it not only deals with the way the whip system works but also with the way government has operated since the foundation of the State, namely, that the Government makes proposals that are disposed of by Parliament through the former's majority therein. Dissent is rarely allowed within the party whip system. The latter increasingly applies in respect of Oireachtas committees and a number of examples of this are cited in the report.

I am proud to be a member of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party. However, as everyone is aware, there are upsides and downsides to being a member of a parliamentary party.