Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Fáilte roimh an Aire. I have given up tabling amendments for the Minister to consider, although he genuinely wished me success in that regard. My batting ratio is zero when it comes to proposing amendments but it will not stop me making comments on the Bill. It has been an extremely busy legislative year for the Minister.

We are at the half way point in the life of this Government. I acknowledge the work of the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in exiting the bailout in a subdued and frank way over the weekend. It is fair to say that although we have regained our sovereignty on the world economic stage, the state of our national and local politics leaves much to be desired. Aside from regaining our economic sovereignty, this Government was also elected to build and reconnect the body politic and our fellow citizens. This Government received an overwhelming mandate to introduce a new way of conducting politics in this Republic. It was not about costs necessarily but about trust. How can we work together between election times in a way that would bring Government closer to the people?

The signals were strong at the beginning, including the setting up of the Constitutional Convention and the response to the Mahon tribunal, in particular the Electoral (Amendment) Act. However, the Minister is more than half way through the lifetime of this Government and all he has to show for it in terms of reform is the odd Friday sitting in the Dáil, a botched referendum on the Seanad, the proposed amalgamation of a few city and county councils in Waterford, Tipperary and Limerick-----