David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I join other speakers in commending all of those candidates who are now on the ballot paper for the presidential election. I wish them all the best of luck, not of course in equal measure, but I wish them all luck nonetheless. It should be a good and a clean campaign.

However, as Senator Mullen stated, it also must be a robust campaign in which all the candidates and what they have to offer are scrutinised, hopefully in a constructive fashion. In addition, the nomination process must be examined in the future and two issues arise in this regard. First, the political reforms that have been promised include fewer Deputies, this House potentially getting the chop, merged councils and fewer councillors. This means there will be fewer representatives available to nominate potential candidates or enable them to reach the magic number of 20 Oireachtas Members. Moreover, there will be fewer councils available for those candidates seeking four council nominations and in this context, there is a need for reform. Second, it is wrong that young people and those under the age of 35 are not in a position to contest the election. Both these issues should be discussed and perhaps there is a need for Members in the short term to have a debate on the kind of constitutional change in the round that many people in this State consider to be necessary in the context of the constitutional convention that was promised by the Government.

Last week, I again raised the issue of the fire sale of performing assets in this State. However, the Government response in this regard has been typical and I have been getting it repeatedly. It comprised raising issues regarding the North and Sinn Féin's performance in the North and in the Assembly in the North, as well as being confused about what is happening. To clarify, an asset realisation group was established in the North. Its purpose is to consider under-performing assets with the intention of realising the value of those assets and to retain them in public ownership where possible. However, in the case of some assets that are not being used, there may be abandoned properties that are a cost to the State, such assets may then be sold to reduce the burden on the State. This is what is happening in the North but what is happening here in the South is we are fire-selling strategic valuable State assets. There is a world of difference between the two and this is the reason it is important to have a debate in this regard.

Finally, a number of calls were made for the Deputy First Minister and First Minister to come before this House. I ask the Leader to hold off on this proposal until a new Deputy First Minister is in place. Perhaps some time in November might be an appropriate time to have both the new Deputy First Minister and the First Minister come before the House, at which time there can be a debate on what is and what is not happening in the North of Ireland.