Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To some extent, it is a term of argument, but it is probably a term we all understand. We talk about people having bona fides, meaning they are not doing something for an improper reason or motive, or in a way that means they are stepping outside their professional competence and application to what they do. We often use the term "in good faith" if something was said in good faith. I suppose it means that people genuinely believe in what they say and they are not saying it for an improper reason or are not engaging in some sort of pretence. Good faith is the absence of bad faith. It means acting properly and honestly. Honesty is a factor and means genuinely believing what one is saying and not being motivated by any improper purpose.