Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I am aware of that and I am conscious of the huge cost that has been incurred to date and that will be incurred. I would like to see far greater emphasis placed on the stressed taxpayers who are trying to meet the public cost and that we would not be wasting money in future. That is one of the reasons I am supportive of the thrust of what we are trying to do here. That balancing issue is a fundamental issue.

It has been said by some commentators that the functioning of these Houses is very much controlled by the incumbent Government. Practically nothing happens in this House without it being handed down from the Government. I made that point yesterday in respect of the Judiciary and it is a point I make today as well. Issues will come up where political influences can and will be brought to bear which will distort the outcome and the findings, and in particular, the independence of the individuals participating on it. I have no doubt that will happen.

I participated, along with some Members here, in inquiries these Houses held on matters of public importance, and there were external attempts to bring influence to bear. We know how our political system works. I have grave concerns in that regard.

This is a wide-ranging amendment to our Constitution. If it is adopted, the powers of the Oireachtas will equate to those of the courts, if the Oireachtas itself decides that an issue should come before an inquiry of either or both Houses. There is nothing I can see - unless the Minister can point me to something - within the referendum that will go before the people that will in any way restrict the range of matters that may go before an inquiry here, as long as somebody decides they should. Unfortunately, it is likely that the power to decide what inquiries will be carried out will be limited to 15 Members of these Houses who happen to be members of the Government. It will be controlled by the Government. That will be the effect of the amendment. Some commentators have said, and I fully agree, that if this provision is introduced, there should be a weakening of the control of these Houses by the Government. I see no expressed or implicit suggestion-----