We have all heard the toxic discussions and debates with respect to politicians, the hate speech and so on. Councillors are resigning or retiring early, before their time.

The programme for Government states that the Government will "Consider the introduction of an alternate/substitute candidate list to cover parental and caring leave, long-term illness leave, resignation [and so on, and] career breaks". It also states that it will "Develop supports and alternatives for members of the Oireachtas to take parental leave." Curiously, on the same page it also states that the Government will "Examine replacing by-elections with an alternate list system." Who is responsible for bringing these ideas forward so we can debate them? What kind of progress has been made to date?

We are all responsible in terms of collective engagement on the issue. The Minister without portfolio, Deputy McEntee, set a good example with regard to progressing this and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, also did so more recently in respect of parental leave. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for both the national issues around an alternative list system and developing those reforms. The big reform at the moment is the legislation around the Electoral Commission, which has to be comprehensive in its nature and also has to deal with modernising our entire electoral system. An alternative list system for by-elections does merit debate across the House and in an Oireachtas committee because it would have implications for our parliamentary democratic system. We need to modernise on a range of issues the Deputy raised.