Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Harkin to the House. She is a neighbour and friend, and I want to pay tribute to her great work in Europe. We in Ireland are extremely lucky to have excellent MEPs, in particular her analytical abilities and her commitment to a wide variety of areas in Ireland and Irish society.

We are lucky she is on the agriculture committee. Given her background in the west of Ireland, she has a unique understanding of the challenges and difficulties in the industry. She is working very hard to make sure the case is made for small Irish farmers, in particular those in the north west, who face very different challenges to other parts of the country. I pay tribute to her work in other areas. I was aware how well all MEPs work together in a European context.

The establishment of the community-led local development model is something with which my father was involved in 1990. It is something that has been replicated throughout Europe as the Irish way is the way forward. I note Ms Harkin's view on the alignment proposal and what that will do in an Irish context, in terms of development companies and local authorities. There are fears among local authorities that as many members of staff are contract workers, the expertise that has built up among Leader staff throughout the country will be lost as contracts come to an end. They are concerned they may be left with staff who are surplus to requirements, such as planners, engineers and so on. What impact will that have in continuing the very good work done by Leader?

I am delighted with the topic Ms Harkin chose to consider today. It is very thought-provoking. I feel the Seanad has always been abused by the leadership of the day. I do not want to be overly critical of the current Government but I do not absolve any previous one of blame. Fianna Fáil was in government more than any other party. The Seanad was always used and abused as a safety net for the also-rans or a breaking ground for new talent. The contributions of many of us from the political world were always overlooked in favour of the exclusive credit of the Independents, who have always made a unique contribution. However, because one happened to be a member of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or the Labour Party, one was almost discredited because one was seen as a has-been or on the way up.

The media Gallery is empty today; I doubt any are watching proceedings in their offices. That is a sad indictment, not of the work of this House, but of those people. The attitude seems to be that the decision has been made, therefore let us get rid of the Seanad and bury it. I know from speaking to Fine Gael colleagues that, unfortunately, the grounds for that decision are as empty as political opportunism. The Minister of State, Deputy Fitzgerald, was as much taken by surprise as anybody else when it was said just before the Fine Gael leader's dinner in Citywest. That is sad. The Taoiseach has stuck to that view, against the wishes of Senators and the Leader of the House, who is the best Leader I have known in the 11 years I have been here. He has introduced new initiatives such as inviting MEPs and others to address the House. I do not blame him for the current situation.

I have never known a Senator who is not an enthusiast for reform, rather, Senators are enthusiasts and proposers of radical reform. What has prevented it over the years is the inability of the political leadership to say it will depoliticise the Seanad, abolish the whip and ensure all EU scrutiny takes place here. Since the Lisbon treaty, proposed legislation has been kicked to national parliaments for consideration. I understand in the region of 500 submissions have been made on various directives. I am not saying significant numbers of responses have not been made through officials in the Civil Service, but I understand Ireland has provided fewer than ten formal parliamentary responses. Perhaps there have been none. It is a sad indictment of the situation and feeds into people's understanding of Europe, the lack of democratic accountability and people being at arms length from Europe and not being involved in the process. I agree that the Seanad is the ideal link. We could debate proposed legislation. MEPs should be given the right to attend the Seanad to keep us informed. We do not want to add other meetings to their busy agendas, but such an arrangement would help greatly to connect the people with Europe and make use of what is a very good forum.

If the media covered the Seanad, other than the writers who write tongue in cheek pieces on days I get stuck into the Leader on an issue, the public could have a lot more confidence in our political system in its current form. No Senator would not change the electoral system or become involved in EU scrutiny or the confirmation of the appointment of members of the Judiciary, the new head of the ESB, an EU commissioner or other major public appointments.

Last week I said people's frustration with all politics is a result of their not having any sense of ownership of the policy platform of the day. I do not want to be overly critical of the Labour Party because Fianna Fáil and everybody else has used their manifestos to, for want of a better expression, buy elections. Afterwards, one is assimilated into permanent government. Once the honeymoon is over, apart from low hanging fruit, one is largely pursuing the policy of the previous Government. Naturally, the public becomes frustrated.

In terms of dealing with the public, we are reduced to dealing with medical cards, planning permission and the normal, run of the mill issues raised at constituency meetings every day. They are important, but where is the person who can say he or she went to his or her Deputy or Senator, gave them the idea for X and six months' later saw a Private Members' Bill proposed which was voted on and perhaps adopted? The democratic deficit of Europe is exemplified with the democratic deficit in these Houses.

Ms Harkin's proposals are right. There is not a person in the House who would disagree with her. Countless Taoisigh chose to maintain the status quo and effectively limit the great potential of the House in the legislative process.

On RTE last Saturday I was asked if it was frustrating to be in the Seanad. I said it was, but did not get to explain why, and somebody gave out to me afterwards and told me not to say I am frustrated in here. I meant one's proximity to the levers with which change can be made is such that of course one is frustrated when one is unable to move those levers.