Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

No Oireachtas committee in the House has any effect because unless this matter is addressed through legislation it counts for nothing. We can talk all we like in a committee but if it is not in the legislation it does not count. According to the explanatory memorandum this issue has come to light as a result of the Standards in Public Offices Commission. I am the chairman of the Oireachtas finance committee, of which Deputy McHugh is also a member, and the Standards in Public Offices Commission will appear before the joint committee on 25 May 2005. This will be the first time this commission appears before an Oireachtas committee and it will be a worthwhile experience. There is no particular item on the agenda. It is an introduction, and clearly it has concerns about legislation. This is reflected in the legislation today. I am sure Members of the House also have views on how the commission conducts its work. It will be a useful exchange of views. Further legislation will be required and we will need consolidation legislation.

A matter relevant to any election campaign is the matter of the voter register. It is inappropriate for a local authority to be involved in compiling the information for the local register. It has no knowledge, no competence and it does not have the people on the ground. There is only one obvious organisation in the State that should compile the voters register and that is——

See this speech in context