Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Howlin, to the Chamber to discuss this short but significant Bill. The primary purpose of the Bill is to amend and extend Part 3 of the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938. In short, the Bill provides for a 10% reduction in the rates of the allowance, with a saving of €840,000, and for changes to improve the effectiveness and transparency of the allowance by providing for improved reporting and auditing provisions that currently apply to parliamentary leaders. These auditing provisions will also apply to Independent Members in receipt of the allowance. The Bill also provides for new inspection powers and for new guidelines to be introduced by the Standards in Public Office Commission.

The reduction in the allowance by 10% was first announced in budget 2013 and is a further example of one of the many reforms promised in the programme for Government. As legislators, we must always strive towards maximum transparency, and this Bill will go some way to ensuring that. The programme for Government sets out an ambitious programme of reform to deliver fundamental change in democratic and public governance in Ireland.

The public has lost a great deal of faith with the body politic. Most of the institutions of the State have let it down in some manner over the past 20 years, that is, the church, politicians, the media, etc. As we emerge from recession, we must look to reform the way we conduct political leadership in this country. We must strive to restore confidence in a system where there is none. Members should ask any person on the street about politician's expenses and leaders' allowances and see the kind of response they get. For now, we must go above and beyond what is necessary to show that efficiency and transparency are foremost in our minds when it comes to political expenses and allowances. We must not just administer the system in a fair and transparent manner, we must also be seen to be doing so.

The Bill will provide for the abolition of severance payments to holders of certain ministerial and parliamentary offices upon cessation of office, in accordance with the programme for Government. That is a promise made before coming into office and now is being implemented. We must get rid of the golden handshake culture that once defined our political and business elite. It was often ill-judged, excessive and reflected poorly on those struggling with the worst of the austerity measures.

Some will say that €840,000 is a small saving but how many special needs teachers would it allow us to take on? How many extra beds will it provide in our hospitals? The issue at play here is greater than money; it is about perception and restoring confidence in a broken system.

I again welcome the Minister, Deputy Howlin, to the House. I commend him on his efforts and encourage him to continue on his path of reform. I believe I speak on behalf of many Senators when I say that we have a new zest for life since the referendum. We have a fresh mandate-----