Denis Naughten: Pledges to Restore TDs' Accountability in Dáil
Deputy Denis Naughten addressed the Dáil as a candidate in the secret ballot for Ceann Comhairle, outlining his experience and his campaign focus. He argued for stronger parliamentary accountability, better briefings for deputies, and opposed the use of GDPR to block legitimate questions.
Candidacy and parliamentary experience
Deputy Denis Naughten spoke as a nominee for Ceann Comhairle and set out his credentials, citing time in cabinet and on the back benches, service as a party TD and as an independent, and roles as a committee chair and temporary chair. He emphasised his work on Dáil reform and on an informal committee supporting the rights of members, and his readiness to advise new deputies.
Public frustration and the need for accountability
He said voters expressed frustration with accountability by the public service and public authorities, and argued that Dáil Éireann must be an effective, questioning parliament. He warned that deputies are both messengers for the people and messengers to the people, and that the non-political nature and job security of the public service must be matched by accountability to the Dáil.
Examples of weakened oversight - HSE and parliamentary questions
Deputy Naughten gave the Health Service Executive as an example, saying quarterly meetings between TDs and local management have evaporated and that the sole means of accountability has become committee proceedings or parliamentary questions. He noted parliamentary questions often take many weeks for a reply, undermining timely accountability to constituents.
Concerns about GDPR and briefing failures
He raised concern that GDPR protections are being deployed to avoid answering legitimate TD questions, with far-reaching implications for public policy and the work of the Dáil. He also criticised failures to brief deputies about actions by agencies so that, at times, the TD whose constituents are affected is the last to know.
Role of the Ceann Comhairle and closing appeal
While acknowledging the Office of the Ceann Comhairle has a restricted role in reform, he argued its primary function is to protect members' existing rights. He pledged, if elected, to use the office to hold, protect and reaffirm the legitimacy of members to seek answers and ensure accountability, and closed by asking for the opportunity to preside as their advocate and servant.
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The next item of business is the selection of the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Eireann. Ceann Comhairle, Dáil Eireann, Oireann. I will now proceed to the secret ballot in accordance with Standing Order 6. I must inform the House that having received and examined nominations for the position of Ceann Comhairle, the following is the list of validly nominated candidates. Deputy Dennis Naughton and Deputy Sean O'Farrill. As there is more than one candidate, the candidate who will be proposed for election by the House will be selected by secret ballot. Before proceeding to the secret ballot, I will in alphabetical order call on each candidate to speak on their own behalf or where the candidate has been nominated by another member to speak on their behalf. I will call on that member. Each deputy will have five minutes. I now call on Deputy Dennis Naughton. Deputy Dennis Naughton has available tickets to the co value in Australia. Today, 48 deputies take their seats for the first time. Their arrival is the culmination of campaigns on issues they care for and a cause that they believe in. Those of us here longer share their enthusiasm, but we can also share with them our experience. In my own case, I have been in cabinet and on the back benches, in government and opposition, as a party TD, as an independent deputy. I understand every perspective in this House because I have lived it. As a committee chair and as a temporary chair of this House, I have worked to vindicate the rights of my fellow members. I have directly engaged in Dáil reform and participated in an informal committee on supporting the rights of members. I have been more than happy over the years to provide advice and assistance to new members, regardless of political views, because I firmly believe that there is a responsibility on every member to support the less experienced colleagues in doing the best job that they can as a member of Dáil Éireann. The reason that I am putting my name forward is because one of the consistent messages that I received on the doorsteps during the general election was the public frustration with accountability by the public service and public authorities. In an open, questioning culture, we need an effective and questioning parliament. Getting straight answers to straight questions is becoming more difficult in Dáil Éireann. This is reflected by that public frustration. Deputies are not just messengers for the people. They are also messengers to the people. This is neither fully understood nor effectively prioritised by our public service. The non-political nature of our public service and the job security of our public servants are a strength for this state. But in exchange for that security, they must be accountable to Dáil Éireann through its members. I firmly believe that this accountability is being slowly lost through incremental disempowerment of TDs. Take a very simple example, that of the Health Service Executive. Under its establishment, TDs had quarterly meetings with local management of hospital groups and community health services. However this has completely evaporated. The sole means of accountability of officials now is through the Joint Leructus Committee on Health or through parliamentary questions, which in many instances take ten weeks to get a reply. A far cry from the required accountability to Dáil Éireann. While the Office of Cancórla has a restricted role in the reform of Dáil Éireann, one of the primary functions of this office is to protect the existing rights of members. This is not just about ruling parliamentary questions out of order, nor the disrespect of a single sentence PQ reply or referring a member to a website. It is the failure to brief deputies on the actions being taken by agencies such as the HSE. Sometimes the very last person to know is the TD whose constituents are being directly affected. This is a cultural issue and an administrative one. It is part of the cultural change that I want to help deliver on so that Dáil Éireann becomes an effective forum for the people who elect us. We now face a greater threat. GDPR, a tool to protect us all as citizens, is being used to avoid answering legitimate questions of TDs. This has far-reaching implications for public policy and for the Dáil. Protections for citizens cannot be deployed as barricades against their elected representatives doing essential parliamentary work on behalf of the very same people. This is an essential issue for this House. It would be an honour to be Ciancóirle, but it would be a greater honour still to use the office within its confines to hold, to protect and to reaffirm the legitimacy of members of Dáil Éireann to seek answers and ensure accountability. With profound respect for this House, I humbly ask you for the opportunity to preside over it as your advocate and as your servant. Go raibh míl a maith agibh gal éir. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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