The main political parties agree on the need for extensive reform of Dail structures and procedures to make the political system more relevant to peoples' lives. Had the road hauliers protest occurred while the Dail was in session, questions on the matter could be ruled out of order because of antiquated rules. Yet, the Taoiseach and his Ministers would be subjected to questioning by journalists outside of Leinster House. It is time the balance was tilted back towards parliament and its democratic structures.
Events of the last number of years, which led to the establishment of tribunals of inquiry and generated damaging political controversy, have whetted the appetite for change. As public confidence in politicians and in Oireachtas and judicial structures waned, the political parties began to cast around for reforms that would address democratic deficits and, at the same time, modernise the system.
With a general election approaching, it was perfectly natural that a competitive element should enter the process. Fine Gael unveiled its plans in a policy document entitled "A Democratic Revolution" on Tuesday. Many of the ideas, such as longer Dail sittings, fewer TDs and a restructured Question Time, have been in the public domain for years. The Dail's Public Accounts Committee advocated other changes that would give the Oireachtas financial and organisational independence last year. Other Fine Gael proposals involved reducing the number of Dail committees from 22 to 9 and giving them greater investigative powers; granting the Ceann Comhairle more power and appointing a parliamentary examiner. The appointment of a judicial board, composed of legal and non-legal members, would allow for minor or moderate sanctions - short of impeachment - to be imposed on judges deemed guilty of poor or unorthodox judicial behaviour. And, in future, tribunals of inquiry would have more than one member.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, described his party's proposals as the most fundamental set of reforms for the political system since the foundation of the State. Public disillusionment with the political system meant that such radical reforms were necessary. "The body politic has sunk to a new and dangerous low in public esteem. The rot has spread to the departments of State, the courts and the legal system and other arms of State," Mr Bruton said.
His comments were clearly regarded as an attack on the Coalition Government because, within hours, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, said the proposed reforms had "no substance, no costings and amount to mere empty rhetoric". On Wednesday, however, as the public's undoubted desire for reform was assessed, the Government Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, took a different line. He criticised Mr Bruton and Fine Gael for going it alone on a reform programme. Most of the ideas on Dail reform had been discussed between the parties over a matter of months, Mr Brennan said. And Fine Gael's attempt to hijack the plans meant that he would now bring his own proposals to Cabinet within a matter of weeks. The public should not give any weight to this political spat. The important thing is that a comprehensive reform programme for the Oireachtas and the judiciary is introduced as soon as possible. It does not matter where it originates. For Fine Gael and the opposition parties to allow the Government dictate the nature and extent of reform would be an abdication of their function.