Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to share two minutes of my time with Senator Pat O'Neill.

Ba mhaith liom míle buíochas a ghabháil leis an Taoiseach agus é i láthair sa Teach seo inniu. Nil mórán le rá agam chun cur leis an moladh atá curtha chun cinn ag an Seanadóir MacSharry. Ní fhéadfainn é a rá níos fearr ná mar a dúirt an Seanadóir é. Praise from the Opposition, when it comes, is real.

I thank the Taoiseach. As Senator Marie Louise O'Donnell said, we all knew what we were letting ourselves in for. We all knew that he would put the issue to the people and he was true to his word. I thank him for coming and being the first Taoiseach to instigate a debate on reform of the House which is what people have spoken about. The word that was used most in the debate was - I will say it in Irish for Senator Trevor Ó Clothartaigh - athchóiriú or reform. That is where we are headed.

I had the phrase "citizen involvement" written down. It would be an innovative step. We must include all of society in devising legislation in this House. A system of participative democracy and budgeting could be used in this House.

The committees are not working. I refer to the issue of Dáil and committee reform. On the select committees, I go along with what Senator Denis Landy said.

Do they work? Will we get the best expertise if we hold on to the old system? I do not believe we will. That system must change completely and must use the expertise that exists in both Houses. In this House - not only among the Independent Senators - there are lawyers, teachers, entrepreneurs and business people, on both the Taoiseach's side and on the other side. In reference to the Independent Senators, every Senator should be on a level pegging in respect of research assistants, whether these are part time or full time. Let them choose where they want to go or what they want to do. Research assistants are invaluable and the Independent Senators have them in abundance. We have research assistants within the party and we have secretarial assistants. The relevant new Bill on vouched expenses was published today.

Senator Noone mentioned all the changes this Government has made since coming to office in respect of the Taoiseach's salary and ministerial salaries and cuts. I refer to corporate responsibility and Executive power. We in the Seanad should look at where the buck stops. Too often people hide behind the Department, asking who is in the Department and who is the Minister? There should be corporate responsibility within the Seanad to look at that and there is expertise here to do so.

I refer to innovative ideas-----