Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I hope a consensus can be achieved in the House regarding how the commission should evolve. Deputy Kelleher raised an important point, namely, the concept of the Minister appointing the commission. I am not one of those who wants to establish 100 boards similar to An Bord Pleanála or Bord Fáilte and take power away from the Oireachtas. We are elected by and accountable to the people. If we say we cannot trust ourselves, it will be a sad day. Who will watch the watchdog? Many claims and accusations are made across the floor of the House. These are often unfair, unjustified and lack balance. The Minister's appointing the commission would be open to claims of prejudice. If one casts one's mind back a number of years to particular Administrations and the Ministers who held power in them, it is difficult to imagine them appointing commissions of inquiry into aspects of certain matters. I will not mention names but I do not believe such commissions would have been established. If they had, the riding instructions for their chairmen would lag far behind those given to some of the jockeys riding at Punchestown during the first week in April.

I commend the Minister for introducing the Bill, albeit it nine months after its publication. I hope on Committee Stage the various issues raised by Members will be taken on board. We often state that we are not all involved in corruption but we are all tarnished by accusations of corruption. People have lost respect for politicians and believe they can treat politicians like doormats. We should not accept such treatment. The vast majority of politicians from all political parties are honest, hard-working, decent people who make sacrifices of a kind which many commentators in the Press Gallery and members of the general public will never understand. It is important to stand up for our profession because at the end of the day someone must take responsibility and do the job with which we are charged. Despite newspaper headlines about politicians' wages and expenses, the vast majority of people, even those in humble jobs, who gain election to the Houses lose our financially. One incurs unusual expenses of a kind that one never imagined before being elected.

Money is not everything. However, I do not believe that any sum of money would compensate people for the hours they spend here and the efforts they make. I wish the Minister well with the Bill.

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