Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

I was Fianna Fáil spokesperson on political reform during the general election campaign. I noted on the doorsteps and in national debates that there was much focus on political reform with all parties publishing proposals. Like never before, people actually engaged with this topic with calls for real change. Many people said to me the problems over the past several years came down to the excessive localism in our system where we elect people because of their ability to fix potholes instead of electing individual candidates on a national platform. Fianna Fáil proposed to have half the Dáil membership elected by constituency with the other half elected from a national list. For example, a voter in the Dublin North-East constituency could vote for a national candidate on health issues based in Galway.

We need to really change politics, not tinker with numbers or sit extra days with no real business. People showed a hunger for substantial change during the election. I am disappointed by this electoral legislation and see it as a missed opportunity. I hope the Government is serious about its proposed constitutional convention. All we have seen so far have been optics and a lack of substance.

In a newspaper article this week, Senator Mac Conghail's group, We the Citizens, reported that many at its citizen assemblies called for external experts to be brought into Cabinet. This was another Fianna Fáil proposal and I am disappointed the Government has not taken it on board. Considering the economic challenges we face, it should be possible to allow into Cabinet people with business or economics expertise who wish to offer their professional services in a ministerial capacity but who may not want to run for election and wait 20 years for Cabinet selection. I am disappointed this Fianna Fáil proposal has not been taken up.