DAIL DEBATE

Local Elections (Discolure of Donations and Expenditure) Bill 1999

Take Number: JJ

Next Take Number: KK

Forum

DÁIL ÉIREANN

Sitting Time

Sitting Date

17:00 (5 o'clock)

Mr. Kelleher: I thank Deputy Hanafin for sharing her time. The reason I welcome the Bill is that it gives me an opportunity to speak on local government reform in particular. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government and a report on local government reform has been submitted by members of the committee. It is an area which has been neglected over the years, and that has been alluded to by Members on both sides of the House. Centralised government and placing the power structures in the hands of a few individuals should be discouraged at all times.

If we are serious about bringing democracy to the people and vice versa, a complete overhaul of the present structures of local government is essential. Deputy Deasy alluded to the 1944 managerial Act. I am very concerned that the running of counties and cities is in the hands of a few people who are not answerable on a regular basis to the public or to public representatives who have been elected to that body. People will argue that county councillors, corporation members and urban and town commissioners have a role to play and that they can implement policy. However, when one analyses local government, one will realise it is the county manager and a few officials in higher managerial sections who run local authorities. That is completely unacceptable and negates the essence of democracy. If we are serious about local government reform, we must challenge that and take the power from those who are unelected and hand it back to those who are.

Despite all its ills, America has one great strength in that it prides itself on democracy. At every level, even at community council level, those who are elected make the decisions, handle the money and are accountable to the people at the next election. It is time we looked at that issue as we face the next millennium and after 100 years of local government. Local government has served this country well since its inception, but there is much room for improvement.

We have a duty as public representatives at national and local levels to ensure politics is promoted in all sectors of society and that those who hold public office are people of integrity and honesty. The reason this Bill is before the House is that people are concerned at the way politicians are pursuing their careers and at how they fund their campaigns and the fact they may be compromised at some point in the future by a donation from an individual. The majority of people who stand for public office, from the town commission to Dáil Éireann, have a genuine sense of public duty. They are there to serve the people in their community.

We are bringing forward this legislation for all the wrong reasons, that is, the negative vibes in society. Representatives in this House have a strong duty, as do reporters. Journalists must report in a fair manner and not in the sensational way which has become evident in Irish reportage. I am concerned that is sending all the wrong signals. If we look at the turnout for local and general elections, statistics would suggest it is slipping. We must ask why people are not as interested in politics now as they were at the start of the century. One could argue they were refused the right to vote for so long but I believe there is a deeper problem which must be tackled. Young people, in particular, are not interested in exercising their franchise. It is an issue at which we must look seriously in view of the demographic trends in our society. We have a large young population so a huge section of our community will be unrepresented at local authority level on 11 June if they do not vote.

I would defend the right of a person to decide not to vote as much as I would the right to vote. However, people should be encouraged to exercise their right so that those who are elected can identify the issues and come to grips with what people are thinking. If only 50 per cent cast their vote, we face a huge problem which we must seriously address. We talk about the problems with the register of electors but they are administrative. There is a deep and underlying trend which will continue unless politicians at all levels stand up and have the honesty to say they can or cannot do something or that they have or do not have the power to do something. The reason people are not voting is that they look at politicians and say they cannot make an impact. That is something about which we must be very concerned. At a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation, some Members of the Houses wanted the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation to set up an independent review group to decide on grant applications. I know as much about my constituency as any expert advisory group. I believe I am entitled to advise the Minister on deserving and worthy cases because I was elected by the people of Cork North-Central. My colleagues in the constituency could do likewise. We are beginning to row back and hand powers to quangos. Every country which moved in that direction is now rowing back. We need look only at Britain which had quangos for everything. It realised its folly and is handing the power back to the people, something which will continue. We have a long way to go and we must act soon before local government and national government represent only a small proportion of the people.

On the dual mandate, I am not a member of a local authority but intend to stand for election. I will defend the dual mandate as long as we have the present electoral system of multi-seat constituencies and more than one party colleague within a constituency. It is an issue at which we will have to look. If we are serious about giving more time to national issues and devolving powers back to local authorities, we will have to look at how we elect the national Parliament as well. We will have to look at the single transferable vote, proportional representation and single seat constituencies. That would allow TDs elected in such constituencies to concentrate solely on national issues and would give them the time and space to deal with constituents' problems without having to look over their shoulders to see if a colleague attended the same funeral they attended. I welcome the Bill and hope it will discourage some people and encourage others to become involved in politics and make them realise that most people involved in this noble profession are honest, decent and hardworking. I will defend politicians everywhere I go.