David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

We must ask ourselves whether the reforms we intend to implement are designed to make institutions more democratic and inclusive, to make sure we have better representation, to ensure we have more women in elected positions and in power and to make sure we have effective governance. Effective governance is the most important point. Considering the economic crisis that has been building up for the past ten years, one of the charges levelled against the political system is that it was asleep at the wheel and that there was insufficient accountability and scrutiny. We saw that in the context of the political system and the regulatory system. Many people argue we have a deficit of proper accountability and scrutiny in this State. For those reasons, I am somewhat sceptical about the proposals of this Government in the Bill. The Minister will not agree with me but this is part of an election gimmick, something promised by the Taoiseach and the Government in the run-up to an election. He went down the populist road by proposing to abolish the Seanad, cutting the number of Deputies by 20 and abolishing a number of local authorities. If we follow that path, we will end up with less scrutiny. If we abolish this House and have fewer Deputies, there will be less scrutiny and oversight. Following that with fewer councillors and a weakened local government system will make a bad situation worse. If the Government was serious about reducing the number of Deputies and ensuring there was an enhanced system of governance, it would start by improving local government. It should not reduce numbers but give more powers to local authorities.

One of the arguments for reducing the number of Deputies is cost. Sinn Féin has made proposals for reducing the salaries of Deputies and Senators and doing away with the expenses and allowances available to Chairmen of committees and Whips. I was informed last week that, as a Member of this House and as someone who served on a local authority, I am entitled to claim €23,000 when I reach the age of 50. Hopefully I will be a Member of the Lower House at that stage but other Senators are over the age of 50 and have received the payment. They can leave the local authority on election to this House, receive a generous salary along with expenses and allowances and also receive a payment from a cash-strapped local authority. These are the issues the public want us to deal with. If it is a case of saving money, let us start with those expenses. We should start at the top and properly reform the system to do away with the outrageous expenses that were available to politicians. These were put in place in a different era and we are in a different place now.

I have tabled a number of amendments and I will get to the substance of our proposals later. Like previous speakers, I support four-seat, five-seat and six-seat constituencies. The worst thing that could happen is if we move to a two-party State. From my perspective, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party are one party. There is little difference between them, as we see in the programme for Government. It is a case of continuing the policies of the previous Government. We need political diversity in this country and if the Government parties consider reducing the number of Deputies and abolishing this House, they will take away the independent voices in this Chamber. I refer to people appointed by the Taoiseach who add value to this House, such as Senator Crown, who has a strong background in health and can bring a different perspective to the Chamber. If that was lost, it would be a sad day for the country, the democratic system and the idea of empowering the institutions of the State. For those reasons, I oppose the Bill.

I have been told by the Leader of the House that the changes we propose to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges require changes to Standing Orders and that this was not possible. Standing Orders seem to be very precious to the Leader for some reason and, in keeping with that, I call for a quorum.