Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand with regard to conflict of interest but it was a non-executive position heading up an organisation and it is in the public interest. All of us have been in contact with the Irish Road Haulage Association in various capacities over the years to raise issues. I know exactly what Deputy Hourigan is saying, and it is appropriate that it is said, but there are 12 others of us of whom, were Deputy Verona Murphy going off the reservation, it could be said we had a vested interest. She has declared an interest. Obviously she is involved in the transport sector. She was a non-executive president of the organisation. We have all had previous outings, whether it was architecture in Deputy Hourigan's case or beef exports for me. Of course, we state the interest but it is not a conflict.