Last week, John O'Donoghueand Fintan O'Tooledebated the question Does Dáil Éireann do a good job for the Irish people? Here is an edited selection of your comments.
OF COURSE not - it was set up for a time that has long since gone if it ever even existed. The entire system needs the sort of sea change in attitude that the current generation of Irish politicians, and I dare say the one to come, are simply incapable of delivering. In a normal modern democracy. It reflects on us as a country that we choose the corruption we claim to not want over competence. Fair enough if you think Enda Kenny is boring but you can be sure he'll never be up in front of a Tribunal and any criticisms about his government will be over policy issues, as it should be. So maybe it's not new politicians we need but new shrinks and sociologists.
Desmond FitzGerald United Kingdom
I think it does, and it's too easy to dismiss TDs as time-wasters. Have a look at the economy over the last 15 years. They must be doing something right. While some may regard politicians as overpaid, if you take the salary of an average TD and compare it to the actual hours they work in the Dáil and their constituencies each week, they're barely making minimum wage. Plus, while the Dáil only sits three days a week, they're working in their constituencies a grass-roots level for the remaining four days of the week.
Mark Donnelly Ireland
While most TD's work very hard, some would say 24/7, most of their time is spent in their constituencies dealing with problems created for people by bureaucracy and inefficiency in public services. This is the way TDs ensure they will get elected the next time. It is a system that creates a culture of dependency and discourages people from becoming active citizens, in that sense it is anti-democratic.
Noreen Byrne Ireland
No it doesn't But then, its not meant to! Government takes place in government departments, and not in Leinster House. The Dáil is where the dance of democracy is performed, and that is all it is, a well rehearsed, choreographed dance.
Marty Ireland
Compared to what? Dictatorship? Silly question without proper qualification.
Jane Dwyer Ireland
It has utterly failed to protect the integrity of the democratic institutions of the State. It allowed cute whore-ism and the worst aspects of parish pump politics to permeate the place. Its failure to challenge those that sit in the Dáil who may have questions to answer regarding matters of probity must be deplored.
Jim O'Sullivan Ireland
The Oireachtas is a critical element in Irish democracy yet the vast majority of its members are supporting a treaty that further diminishes the democracy with which it is entrusted. I have heard TDs say that democracy is increased because the Oireachtas will have the right to give the commission a "yellow card" if they don't like the legislation the commission is proposing. But the commission is perfectly entitled to ignore them. The right to whinge cannot be favourably compared to the right to produce Irish legislation appropriate to Ireland.
Kathy Sinnott MEP Ireland
Allowances payable to members of the Oireachtas should be linked to performance and determined by an independent competent body appointed by the electorate. A percentage of elected representatives, randomly selected, should retire each year and present themselves for re-election. Such a dual approach would improve accountability in the public sector and result in better functionality and accountability in Dáil Éireann.
Con Ireland