Need to reform the Dáil

Madam, - I am greatly enjoying the FitzGerald at 80 series on RTE1 television on Sunday nights

Madam, - I am greatly enjoying the FitzGerald at 80 series on RTE1 television on Sunday nights. The energy and interest that Dr FitzGerald continues to demonstrate in public affairs puts men and women half his age to shame.

Vincent Browne's very forensic and indeed combative interview last Sunday made for compelling viewing. Some may argue it was a little tough, though Dr FitzGerald seemed well up to it. However, it prompts the question: why the pursuit of truth from those nearly 20 years out of power, whose record is a fine one, all things considered, when there is not a matching vigour in the pursuit of truth from those who are currently in power, and seeking another five-year term in office?

Many people, including many disenchanted Fianna Fáil voters, would like to see the current Taoiseach given even half the measure of medicine dished out by Mr Browne to Dr FitzGerald. Too often Ministers are given a free run on the airwaves, or allowed to bluster their way past interviewers who are on tight schedules and want to cover several topics. This must change. We need a political TV channel in this country similar to BBC Parliament in the UK or C-SPAN in America where decision makers can be scrutinised fully.

The place where truth must be spoken and sought after in the first instance, however, is in the chamber of Dáil Éireann. The media play a very important role, but we must always remember that it is only a complementary role. To have a Government which answers only to the media - or even worse, the whims of the media - is a very bad thing. A Government's first duty is to the people, and it must answer to the people's representatives in the Dáil chamber. If we do not have a strong Dáil, willing to ask strong questions of Government and able to demand clear answers, not half-truths, qualified truths or relative truths, then why have a Dáil at all? Since my entry into Dáil Éireann in 2002 as its youngest TD, the need for reform has been very clear to me - often in many frustrating ways.

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One of the best Dáil reforms would also be one of the simplest: giving any TD the right to question any Minister in Government, simply and without prior notice of the question, and be able to get a direct unscripted answer. If research is needed to clarify a response then let that happen, but figures should be used to aid clarity, not obscure it. Standing orders must be altered to allow proper follow-up questions. Deputies must be give the time to dig if they scent a bone.

The Government is only half right to say that the Opposition could change Dáil standing orders. Despite what the Opposition might propose, these amendments must be approved by a Dáil majority on which the Government keeps a solid lock, as anybody who has produced a Private Member's Bill can testify.

This - coupled with preventing Ministers from hiding behind the Ceann Comhairle or the huge number of agencies created to avoid tough decisions, such as the HSE and the NRA to name but two - would do much to restore the Dáil as the engine of our democracy. - Yours, etc,

DAMIEN ENGLISH TD (Fine Gael), Navan, Co Meath.