John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

It is not a joke. That is a reality check for the Opposition parties. It is the reason the Green Party is in Government.

The Green Party also believes that public life should have the highest ethical standards. We are not the moral custodians of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or the Labour Party. We look after ourselves. Unlike other parties, including the Opposition parties, we do not accept corporate donations and we have never accepted a penny from a developer or a bank. I hope we never will. In fact, there is not a huge difference between the main political parties on many policies, particularly on the question of political donations.

Fine Gael had a policy of not accepting corporate donations but that changed. Likewise Fine Gael and Labour stated the tribunal should be allowed to carry out its work. However, this attitude also changed possibly because the election is over. Let us get on with the work of improving the country, stop the negativity and above all else allow the tribunal to get on with its work.

See this speech in context