Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If the Minister, Labour Party and Fine Gael Party agree that every citizen is entitled to a degree of openness and transparency, the provision of information, standards on accessibility and non-discrimination of public services, surely the foundation on which Irish Water should operate must be feedback, transparency and openness. The United Kingdom established a citizen's charter that is founded on feedback from citizens. While it could be argued that Parliament, whether in the Seanad or Dáil, can provide feedback, that is in the eye of the beholder because such feedback would amount to anecdotal information coming from Members.

Senator Byrne's proposal would provide a statutory footing to a forum that would relay information from citizens on what types of services they want. This is what public service is all about. The Senator has hit the nail on the head on this issue. People deserve a say in what type of future they want for themselves and their children. Politics is often about taking a narrow approach where one looks six months ahead or to the next election. What about looking forward to 2030 or 2040 or creating a vision that would give everyone an equal say on what type of country they want, whether in respect of water, roads, schools, education or jobs?

It is time politics changed in this country. What Senator Byrne is proposing touches on a new type of politics. Prior to the last general election people spoke of a new type of politics but suddenly the next election is fast approaching and this new politics has drastically diminished. This is sad. We can speak about reforming the public service, but we will never reform it if we do not first reform politics. When those at the top of the Civil Service at the top are answerable to the Minister and the needs of the Minister, the future direction or vision of the public service will always be the direction of the politics of the day.