Madam, - We need to change our approach to politics and political debate. Obsessive political party loyalty undermines our democratic structures and renders the Dáil and individual TDs politically impotent. Public confidence in politicians is lacking and public cynicism of politics continues to grow.
Fianna Fáil backbenchers and TDs who support the Government frequently voice agreement in the Dáil chamber with Fine Gael criticism of aspects of Government policy and echo Fine Gael proposals for change or reform. For example, this occurred during a Fine Gael sponsored debate on the childcare subvention scheme announced last summer.
Recent Fine Gael sponsored Dáil motions calling for major health service reforms for victims of cystic fibrosis, upgrading of mental health services and provision of ABA for autistic children also received substantial vocal support from Government backbenchers. However, despite this, they voted against Fine Gael motions to benefit those who need better services.
Mary O'Rourke voted in favour of the Minister for Education in the Dáil, having eloquently criticised the Minister's failure to provide additional ABA facilities. Afterwards, she explained that she would have been a pariah in Fianna Fáil if she had voted with Fine Gael.
Having said one thing and done the opposite, she has understandably been accused of double standards and hypocrisy. The truth is, members of political parties know that it is frequently viewed as treason to vote against your party on any issue - or, if your party is in government, to support a motion critical of a government minister.
The tyranny of the party whip rules on all voting issues. I believe it is time to change the way we conduct our politics and to rethink our political narrative. It is time that intelligent, able Dáil members, in opposition and on government back benches, were entitled to exercise judgment and vote freely on issues that genuinely affect people's lives and on which the government's survival does not depend. I ask colleagues in all parties to debate publicly whether the time has come to transform our narrow party political perspectives, change our political ethos and make the Dáil a real debating chamber and not merely a rubber stamp for government-sponsored legislation.
Change is on the agenda in the United States and talk of a different type of politics is dominating the primaries. Is it not time for us too to have a truly democratic conversation with each other?
Is it not time for better politics? - Yours, etc,
ALAN SHATTER TD,
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.