Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The code is set down. I have no plans to amend the code as it is only two years in operation. If the Standards in Public Office Commission were to make any points about amendments, obviously in due course we would need to look at that. It is a short period. I am not aware of the issue Deputies Kenny and Sargent have raised. It would be quite hard to police a situation where a Minister or a Minister of State is opening an event, or is at an exhibition or a conference. If a Minister or a Minister of State were photographed moving through and the photograph were used I do not believe he or she could be blamed for that. If a Minister made a statement on a matter it might be different. It would be quite difficult to write a code for that.

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