The abolition of the Seanad is a founding principle of my party. However, as a Progressive Democrat, it is important to state that I am of the opinion that this Chamber does valuable work which is of enduring, long-term importance. This House has the capacity and the potential to do much political work which remains undone.
The debate which preceded the referendum on the Nice treaty highlighted the ever-widening gap between the European institutions and the institutions of this State. It also highlighted the urgent need to narrow that gap and to enable Members of the European Parliament and European institutions to address the Irish people and policy makers in the Houses of the Oireachtas. This is the ideal opportunity to create such conditions.
This House received an interesting contribution from Commissioner Byrne which was helpful to us all. On that occasion we were able to ask questions and receive answers. That was an example of what could happen. We should not just offer the right of audience to MEPs, the Council of Ministers or members of the Commission. We should also have an opportunity to make an input into their thinking. That would be one of the badly needed ways in which we could narrow this gap and fill the democratic deficit which has bedevilled the attitude of Irish citizens towards Europe and European institutions.
There is a lack of communication and engagement. There is plenty of information, but it is so unintelligible that people just put it in the bin. We have to invite Europeans to decommission their language and to talk to the citizens of Europe in language which will involve, engage and interest them. That is the kind of thing which can happen in this Chamber in a more meaningful way than in the Dáil. One of the changes I would like to see in this House is the creation of conditions to enable this kind of communication to take place.
I spent ten years in the Dáil and five years in this House. There are areas of public life which do not receive the level of detailed discussion by elected representatives which I would wish. One such area is arts and culture which is so important to the development of the intellectual capital of this country. We have new insights into education as to what triggers intelligence – what gets people to think and to make decisions. This area needs to be brought into mainstream education. It is difficult to create the conditions for such a debate in the Dáil. However, there is plenty of expertise and time in this House to begin this debate from which young people would benefit. We should allow more time for education and other issues which can be debated with great skill in this House. Some Members have much expertise which remains untapped.
The initial idea of vocational panels was good. It was a good idea that people would be drawn from different sectors who would bring their insights and direct experience on the ground to public debate and policy making. We should seek to revisit, strengthen and restructure this idea.
What worries me is the strength of the lobby brigade, unelected people with a huge influence on the making of public policy. I want to see democratic values upheld and the elected people who have the expertise having an input into the making of public policy. When we consider changing the method of election we should revisit those principles and bring that kind of expertise on board. Then expertise, experience and ideas will come from people who are answerable to the public who elected them.