Calls for Dáil reform after poll findings

THE shocking findings that politicians are seen by the public as corrupt led to demands for reform of the Dáil and Seanad last night.

The results of the latest opinion poll, showing only one in 20 voters believe politicians are honest and efficient, comes as Dáil Éireann took an 11-day holiday just four weeks after coming back from a 14-week summer break.

In the Sunday Tribune poll, conducted by Millward Brown IMS, 50% picked corrupt as the best word to describe politicians generally, with 46% choosing self serving, followed by 37% picking incompetent and 22% saying politicians were lazy.

On the flip side, just 5% described politicians as honest, another 5% said they were efficient, only 8% said they were public-spirited and 17% picked hard-working as a term they would associate with their elected representatives.

Those polled were presented with the list of eight words four negative and four positive and asked to choose two to describe politicians.

While politicians in general didn't emerge with credit, more specifically its other findings didn't make pleasant reading for the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Government.

Compared to the last IMS poll carried out in September for the Irish Independent, satisfaction with the Government at 24% is down one point, while Mr Ahern's rating is down three at 34%.

Despite the Government's continued low ratings, support for Fianna Fáil is up one point at 35% and the PDs are unchanged on 4%.

Yet again the opposition is failing to capitalise on the coalition's misfortunes as both Fine Gael on 19% and Labour at 13% are each down two points, while Sinn Féin on 10% and the Greens on 5% are unchanged. Independents are up two points to 13%.

Responding to the poll last night, Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said the Government had shot themselves in the foot by going ahead with the Halloween break.

Calling for an immediate programme of Dáil reform, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the decision to take the week-long break was outrageous and sent out all the wrong signals to the electorate.

According to Mr Sargent, the poll was taken just as the Government announced it was going ahead with the break, despite the protests of the opposition.

Under the Green Party's proposals, the Dáil would dramatically reduce the Dáil holiday periods as it would sit throughout the year with the working week also extended from Monday to Friday and holidays would have to be agreed by a two-thirds majority.

The Greens would also revamp the ceann comhairle's powers requiring the Taoiseach and ministers to properly answer questions, Mr Sargent said.