Last week I requested a debate on delivering democratic reform in the light of the revised models for appointments to State boards which had been agreed to by the Cabinet and the subject of widespread approval.

Belated.

They are belated. Following 14 years of Fianna Fáil in government, they certainly are belated.

Ministers will still have the final say, so what is proposed will not make any difference.

Fianna Fáil was in government for 14 years and did not take action. Those opposite said nothing during that entire period.

I entirely agree that what has been brought forward is belated.

Those in government told us it was wrong, but they continued to do it.

It is ironic that members of the political party that has been in power the longest during the lifetime of the State are arguing that these measures are belated. That party did nothing in respect of this matter.

That is wrong.

The Senator should allow Senator Ivana Bacik to make her point.

Those in government did not appoint a sufficient number of people.

I would like an opportunity to make my point, which is uncontroversial. This is the first time in the history of the State that there will finally be a need for Cabinet approval for an objective and transparent system of appointments to State boards.

These are panic measures for the by-elections.

Senator Terry Leyden should allow Senator Ivana Bacik to speak.

Saying we were worse is not much of a defence.

The Senator's party took no action at all.

I think Mr. McNulty would disagree entirely with what is being said.

Fianna Fáil has never been very good when it comes to free speech.

Senator Ivana Bacik to continue, without interruption.

Slow learners. Some people never learn; that is the truth about Fianna Fáil. I urge colleagues on both sides of the House to look at the website stateboards.ie which, for the first time, is to provide a one-stop shop to ensure transparent appointments to State boards and which will detail candidate specifications, including relevant experience and other criteria. It is hugely important that we will see this reform.

I have expressed my own concerns about the appointment of Mr. McNulty. As such, I do not want to go back over that issue.

Did the Senator vote for him?

However, it is hugely important and significant that we now have in place a proper and transparent system for appointing the members of State boards. If we are having this debate, we should look at the other reforms the Government has brought forward, for example, extending the Ombudsman's jurisdiction and powers and reforming the system of parliamentary inquiries, even in the wake of the defeat of the referendum in 2011. We will regulate lobbying through the Registration of Lobbying Bill which is going through the Oireachtas. Again, for the first time in the history of the State, it will introduce a register of lobbying. This is hugely important and something which has been called for by NGOs for many years. We have restored freedom of information legislation and reversed Fianna Fáil's attempts to dismantle the freedom of information system, about which my colleagues on the other side have probably forgotten. They sought to dismantle a system which had originally been introduced by the former Labour Party Minister of State, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald. We have put in place protected disclosures legislation to protect whistleblowers and are preparing an ethics Bill to overhaul ethics legislation.

This is a party political broadcast.

It is called the truth.

Senator Ivana Bacik to continue, without interruption.

Does she have a question for the Leader?

Yes, I do. I had asked the question of the Leader, but some Members were shouting too loudly.

I ask the Senator not to respond to Members across the floor. Does she have a question for the Leader?

I asked the question of the Leader at the start, but I was drowned out.

Who were the judges appointed today? We have not yet heard their names.

Please allow Senator Ivana Bacik to complete her question.

I asked the Leader for a debate on the democratic reform process being brought forward, including some aspects that had already been introduced and, in particular, items such as the ethics Bill, which is yet to be brought before the House. We should have a debate on all of these reforms. It would be very useful to have the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, in the House to discuss this broad ranging programme of public reform that he is leading.

Would he be able to explain how he had appointed so many people to jobs on his own State boards without advertising them? There were 14 appointments and no advertisements.

The Senator has made his contribution.