Each week in the run up to the General Election, JOE is asking a representitive from each of the main political parties to answer a burning question relevant to Irish men in 2011.
We’re not putting any spin on their answers: we ask the question, they give us their answers, and we print what they tell us.
Representing Fianna Fáil on our virtual panel of Dáil Deputies is the TD for Mayo Dara Calleary.
Question: “Given that the political system as it stands appears to have failed us, do we now need a radical change in the way politics in Ireland is done? And if you return to the 31st Dáil can you give us five things that you’ll urgently be pushing for?“
Answered by Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary TD
For the first time in an Irish election the issue of political reform is taking centre stage. Unfortunately too much of the debate is about gimmicks which will have little or no real impact on how the business of politics is carried out. As Micheal Martin has previously stated, simply cutting numbers will just mean that we have fewer people doing effectively the same thing as before.
Fianna Fáil’s proposals will involve a transformation for our government as well as our political system. The structure of how we form governments is increasingly a problem given both the complexity of issues addressed by modern governments and the impact which appointing only Oireachtas members to government has on the work of the Oireachtas.It does not serve the interests of either parliament or government
The current system effectively removes almost 20% of the membership of the Dáil from the daily work of parliament outside of their own departmental areas
The current system can also directly impact on the work of government. Ministers, in the current system, are quite often expected to return to parliament when a decisive issue is under debate. Whose interest does that serve?
The current system limits the range of talent which can be drawn upon in the formation of a government. In order to ensure that the Dáil’s work is strengthened and that Ministers are more focused solely on their work as ministers Fianna Fáil are proposing that they not serve as members of the Dáil and government at the same time.
In order to ensure that we draw on the fullest range of possible expertise in forming governments we are proposing that membership not be limited to members of the Oireachtas.
The main issues of reform on the Fianna Fáil agenda are:
- The abolition of the Seanad.
- Proposals to make the Dáil more relevant.
- Introducing a mixed system of single seat constituencies and a top up national list to ensure proportional representation.
- Appointing members of Cabinet who would not serve as members of the Oireachtas while working as Ministers.
- Changing the rules so that people who are not elected could serve as Ministers.
- All legislation to be submitted for independent fiscal analysis in advance of debates.
- Restructuring the Oireachtas committee system to increase their oversight responsibilities.
- Reducing the age of people running for the office of President and allowing people to be nominated by a petition of voters.
The things that I will be pushing for most include reform of local government and greater powers for councillors, allowing individuals from outside the Oireachtas to serve in government, longer Dáil sitting times, reform of Oireachtas committees including greater powers, and less committees.
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