Legislation by consensus will be better: Regina Doherty

Newly appointed chief whip Regina Doherty has denied there will be paralysis in the implementation of legislation due to the cross-party consensus now needed.

Ms Doherty said she does not think the vast differences of opinion and an enhanced system of committee-led drafting will prevent politicians from passing laws in the new Dáil.

New ministers have already announced the establishment of numerous committees, to look into issues including mental health and windfarms.

Cross-party committees have also been set up in recent weeks to look at housing and Dáil reform. The budget and Irish Water will also be looked at by committees.

Health Minister Simon Harris has suggested a cross-party committee could help set up a long-term health service plan and these politicians would hear evidence from health professionals and patients.

“We need a 10-year plan that has cross-party political consensus. I’ve heard other parties, such as the Social Democrats, make suggestions in this regard, and I agree there is a need for a long-term strategy for the health service,” Mr Harris told The Sunday Times.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten also wants the issue of energy provision examined. “There is an issue with relation to wind turbines. We need to have a suite of energy solutions,” he said.

With consensus now needed and so many issues being put forward for examination by committees, it has been argued that laws will take extended periods to pass through the Dáil and in many cases difficult pieces of legislation will not go ahead.

However, Ms Doherty said yesterday: “We will have to pass legislation by consensus, which means that we will get better legislation out of this Government.”

“It wasn’t just the last government that had a monopoly on rubber-stamping, it was effectively every government since the foundation of the State. This is the first time that our parliament will have power.

Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week programme, the Meath East TD added: “I am willing and open to listen to everyone’s views but they have to be put respectfully and I do have to genuinely say there are some people in Leinster House who are pretty arrogant with their views, because they might disagree with me, and that apparently makes me wrong. I am not wrong; they are not wrong

“We all need to work together and if we find consensus on legislation then that legislation will be better.”

Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan said there will now be a “transfer of power” where the Dáil, not Cabinet, would implement legislation.

“It’s a new type of politics. I can understand why people are concerned about it, but what it’s going to do is give more power to the elected representatives.”

Cork North Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire of Sinn Féin said: “If a government will do the progressive thing, the right thing for Ireland, we will be supporting.”

Stephen Donnelly of the Social Democrats said the new consensus-led regime would mean “stupid” legislation like Irish Water would not happen.