Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

A very interesting debate is due to take place in the other House tomorrow. It concerns the parliamentary representation and conscience Bill. It would be worthwhile paying attention to what happens in that debate tomorrow. If passed, the Bill will introduce a new section into the Constitution stating:

The Members of each House of the Oireachtas [that includes us, of course] shall be representatives of the whole people, not bound by orders or instructions, and responsible only to their conscience.

I mention this because one of the disadvantages we have had in both Houses over the years is when people stand up and say they agree entirely with the Opposition but they are going to vote in a different way. I believe that is incorrect. Four countries that I know of - New Zealand, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands - have such a conscience clause in their legislation. There have been examples in this House of people saying they were going to vote against their conscience because they had been told to do so. It is a topic that is worthy of discussion and it will be interesting to see what happens to that legislation tomorrow. Regardless of whether it is passed, it is a topic that deserves attention. We have had too many instances in this House and the other House where people have said they disagree, that they are going to vote against their conscience and that although they were elected by a group of people, they are going to vote against their wishes. That is not good parliamentary representation and we should consider how to get that changed in the years ahead. It is not an urgent matter at this stage, but we should keep our eye on what happens tomorrow in the other House. We should then decide whether to have that debate in this House at some point in the near future.