Dr. Elaine Byrne:

It probably has to do with the ethics regime, leadership and proper enforcement within countries. Ireland in many respects has some of the best ethical and governance infrastructure in the world. It leads on issues such as lobbying, whistleblowing and political funding. America or the United Kingdom would give their right arm to have limits on political donations to the extent that we do. I think where we fall down, which is the point made by Deputy McDonald, is in the sense of connectedness and that there are no consequences for impropriety. Perhaps in those countries that I have listed where wrongdoing occurs, there are consequences as in people are prosecuted or there are meaningful consequences whereas in Ireland after so many tribunals, inquiries and so forth, it seems there are no consequences. I have had the experience of being interviewed by the Garda Síochána following a complaint made by a Deputy, who was at the centre of a tribunal of inquiry and I found it a very strange experience that the journalist who was writing about ethics and not the person who has been found guilty by various tribunals of ethical breaches was being investigated. With that kind of culture, it goes to the sense that we have problems with ethics. Our infrastructure and our legislation is very good.