Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

It is not a point about my party but about small political parties. The Green Party has demonstrated the importance of smaller political parties. I spent my five years as a Member of the Dáil trying, with the help of others, to get the building regulations changed. We worked in the background to get the Minister to change them. We also pursued the issue of smart metering. Within six months of the Green Party going into Government, the change has been established as policy. If that does not deliver a good result for the Irish people in terms of policy focus, I do not know what will. It demonstrates the need for focused, smaller political parties. Long may small parties continue in the Irish democratic system.