Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

In welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, to the House I am conscious there has been a tied vote in the other House on the writs for the by-elections. This debate is important because the body politic needs to reconnect with the people. There is a sense among the wider population that there is cronyism and that politicians are looking after themselves. We must, therefore, not consider this issue through rose-tinted glasses, rather we should honestly look at how this parliamentary democracy operates. We must accept there is a need to embrace a new culture in Irish politics. This has a broader strand which must be considered in the context of the entitlement of former Taoisigh to be provided with a State car and the need for transparency and openness in how people are appointed to State boards. All political parties are guilty of looking after their own membership. If we are honest, the practice of Deputies, Senators and MEPs claiming a ministerial pension in tandem with a salary from the Houses of the Oireachtas was wrong and its continuation only helps to inflict further damage on the political system and the reputation of politicians. We must give credit to those MEPs, Senators and Deputies who have given up their entitlement to a pension. There is anger and a sense of betrayal among the people which is levelled at all politicians but predominantly towards the Government. The people have been let down by politics and politicians in the decisions taken and in the way the country has been run for 13 to 14 years. That is the reality.

I appeal to the remaining Members, former Ministers, who have not relinquished their pensions to do so. I am not doing so in an adversarial political manner. This is not a witch-hunt. It is not a case of bowing the knee to the media, rather it is the right thing to do and would help to restore a level of trust in politics and politicians. The motion is important because it provides the right course of action for us to take. If we want to bring about change and a new political culture, we must start with ourselves in the Houses of Oireachtas.

I heard the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, speak about the various changes introduced by the Government - I accept there have been improvements - while Senator Boyle spoke about the evolution of politicians' pay. However, we must call a spade a spade. Politicians' pay grew exponentially under Deputy Bertie Ahern's stewardship as Taoiseach.

While I accept certain journalist are only interested in bringing down politicians, we must not blame journalists for the mess we are in and the low esteem in which politics is held. The Government will give us the line about the Attorney General's advice on why legislation on ministerial pensions cannot be introduced, yet the practice of ministerial pensions is outdated; it belongs to a different generation. We must lead by example. If we are serious about developing a new society and culture while restoring trust between politicians and the people, the motion should be supported by all sides of the House.

I am concerned that we will embark on a process, whereby politics will be the preserve of the chosen few and that those who enter politics will be of a certain type only. We must never allow politics to be about a few; it must be about looking after everyone. No one should be debarred from running for office because of the costs involved.