Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on the eighth report of the Constitutional Convention. I note and acknowledge the contributions of colleagues in this House. I look forward to listening to more contributions. I also acknowledge the contributions of citizens and colleagues who participated in the convention under the chairmanship of Mr. Tom Arnold. As we all know, the convention operated on the basis of openness, fairness, equality, efficiency and collegiality. However, I was interested to hear Senator McDowell say in his contribution that he feels the convention was an emotional one-way street. It is important for us to challenge different views, perspectives and recommendations, regardless of whether they are emotional or are coming from the perspective of social responsibility. I share many of the concerns outlined by Senator McDowell and I will elaborate on them later in this speech.

It was important that the Constitutional Convention deliberated on, debated and discussed the topics before it, following public consultation and with the support of various professionals and experts in the relevant fields. The convention identified the topic of economic, social and cultural rights. All politicians agree that we need to work in the best interests of citizens to deliver services that are as equal as possible in areas like health, education and housing. I note that the convention has made various recommendations in that respect. Having been a Member of the Oireachtas for over ten years, I would argue that the Executive - the democratically-elected Government of the day - is responsible for introducing Estimates that make provision for the services of the State to be made available in as coherent and sustainable a way as possible. It is eminently appropriate for the convention's recommendations to be referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform so they can be considered and debated properly by our Oireachtas colleagues, who are mandated by the State and under the Constitution to analyse, scrutinise and make recommendations.

It is appropriate at this time for the House to acknowledge the substantial State investments in areas like housing, health and education that were announced in yesterday's budget. The total commitment in housing alone is over €6 billion. This will facilitate the delivery of over 99,000 housing solutions under various programmes, including the direct build and housing assistance payment schemes, between now and 2021. Other new programmes have been introduced to deliver housing solutions, including the provision of social and affordable housing. Regardless of the emotions that exist - it is right that we have emotion in public debate - it is important that we do not prioritise any one cohort of citizens over another. Housing is needed across the board by all citizens. A homeless person has a legitimate right to a house, but so does a family that is working hard to keep a roof over its head while struggling to pay the mortgage. Our priority must be all citizens. We should not prioritise one group over another.

I welcome yesterday's announcement of increased expenditure on education. An additional €554 million is being allocated, bringing the total spend on education to over €10 billion. For the first time, we will have the lowest class size ratio of one teacher to 26 pupils. I think that is a welcome development.I welcome the fact that over 1,300 more teachers will be employed for various schools. These are the real equality and delivery decisions that the Government and Oireachtas must make.

It is important to recognise and acknowledge the constitutional role of the Executive or the Government of the day to present the Estimates for each individual Department. I was a member of the recent Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services and during that time I felt that we bordered on setting a dangerous precedent. I am referring to the fact that an Oireachtas joint committee tried to set the Estimates for the Government of the day. Such a development is dangerous as it undermines the democratic authority of the Government of the day. It is important that Oireachtas joint committees scrutinise, make recommendations, deliberate and debate but it is not their job, or that of constitutional conventions however they are compiled, to set Estimates and approve budgets. It is important that we acknowledge that as politicians in the national Parliament.

One could apply the same principle from the bottom up, and even as far as local authorities, where it is the job of local elected representatives or local councillors to pass local authority budgets. Such work is not and should not be the job of agencies, NGOs or other groups. Yes, they play an important role in the public debate, in advocacy and inform and educate policymakers. Ultimately, at the end of the day, it is the job of an elected member, whether it is a councillor, Deputy or Minister, and the latter has a responsibility to pass national budgets, but it is their democratic function. We need to be careful not to undermine such a democratic function.

I welcome the fact that we will recommend the referral of the recommendations for further scrutiny to an Oireachtas joint committee. There will be a further opportunity for colleagues to scrutinise the recommendations made by the Oireachtas joint committee and we will then allow Ministers to consider the recommendations.