John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What concerns me is that we are giving this person a considerable amount of power. He or she would have to be extremely well briefed on the role of councillors, for example, to take up Deputy Calleary's point, who are not familiar with completing all of these forms or the consequences of signing off on them, as we are here in this House. One is presented with all sorts of forms to complete and sign and sometimes, in my opinion, Members do not understand the consequences of those signatures - not that they are doing anything wrong. It is a pretty onerous task to go through all of that paperwork.

We have not consulted with the councillors to get their view on it. I think that consultation is also necessary in respect of what Members of the Parliament think about all of those forms. My understanding of the Standards in Public Office Commission, and I engage with it, is that some Members do not fully understand its purpose. It is not there to catch us out but to help us. I would be very concerned about the forms, and the lack of consultation in respect of all of that.