Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take the Deputy's point. It is worth being aware of the countervailing view that public officials should not accept gifts at all. Where this can become challenging is in the case of a person who is abroad performing Government business. Even though it is not a cultural norm or an expectation that if one is abroad representing the Government or the Oireachtas that one would give a gift to someone else, it is the case in many countries that a gift is given to the visitor. If someone is performing an official duty in Asia, for example, he or she will be given a gift by the person he or she is meeting. It is in recognition of this that the section is included.