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

I accept the explanation on that. Let me outline what concerns me about all this investigation and so on. An investigation will happen because there is a disagreement, misunderstanding or complaint of one kind or another. As one reads down through all this, one notes it is stacked against the member because the member, be he or she a local politician or national politician, is up against it. The first thing is reputational damage. One could be completely innocent. Again, it is a question of striking the balance we are talking about. We are arming an agency of the State with significant powers and money to carry out an investigation. With regard to the preliminary part of this and the opening of the formal investigation, it is very important that there be a completely level playing field in order that, if another investigation is undertaken by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, it will at least know it found something wrong. A suspected contravention has to be based on the submissions that have been made or the papers that have been returned by the member.