Feargal Quinn (Independent)

If this House is under threat, as it is, it is in our own hands to earn respect, regard and our future. That means we should talk about action, what we are going to do and what should take place rather than merely look to the past. I offer a particular case, one that Senator Walsh has brought up on several occasions. It jolted me when he drew our attention to the cost of the various tribunals and the length of time they are continuing. I have not spoken about this in the past because it seems to me that very often those who speak on it have some kind of vested interest, as can be understood. The Flood, now the Mahon, tribunal has lasted since 1997, some 13 years, as has the Moriarty tribunal. Before that there was a beef tribunal and a bar tribunal. There have been so very many.

One can look at how they handle these affairs in the United States. There is a very interesting book, Illinois Justice, about a tribunal presided over by a Judge Stevens to inquire into bribery allegations in banking some years ago. The judge said he would undertake this on condition that he could determine the final date to be six weeks hence and that he would not extend that date. He did it, starting in mid-June and finishing by the end of July with a conclusion.

There are other ways of doing this. There is the example of the Committee of Public Accounts some years ago which moved, got action and earned respect. If we are going to earn respect in this Chamber we must do something to ensure we deserve it.