Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I join with Senators O'Toole, Ellis and Quinn in calling for an important debate on participation in politics. We held a good debate last night on women's participation in politics and I hope to contribute to it when it resumes. There is a discussion on Article 41 and the belief that it needs to be updated in a future referendum, but it is important we keep the debate in context. I would not agree with the notion that people should be getting pensions while still working. It is not appropriate.

We need a proper debate on how to get full participation from a broad spectrum of society. If we consider those who participate in politics, there is an extraordinary number of publicans, teachers and lawyers in the Houses and on local authorities. To have a properly representative democracy, we need to encourage people from all trades, both genders and the entire spectrum of society, including newcomers to the country, to participate in politics. We need a properly open, democratic system. The debate must be ongoing.

There is a view within the media that politicians are not working unless they are sitting here shouting and roaring at one another.