Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will not give my views on individual cases. If one does that with one and not with others, it is unfair. The review will be carried out by the Cabinet secretariat. Obviously, I will have a say in that and I will raise the issue I raised today. The Cabinet secretariat will do the review in consultation with the Standards in Public Office Commission.

I feel strongly about this matter because it is raised regularly. When a Member of the House leaves the House it is unfair for them to be treated differently from leaving any other job. The Dáil has turned over 34% of its Members in the last four or five elections. They should not be tainted. Several questions are raised every time about whether something is outside a fixed period. People must live, particularly younger Members who leave the House and who have young families and must get on with another career. If there is to be a rule, I do not think that it should be that they should be careful, look at it or take it into account. How does one do so? Any Member of the House, office holders or non-office holders, will have met and associated with people. Is it the case that when they enter the House, they cannot do this or that?

I have looked at what happens in other jurisdictions because the issue was raised several times during the past ten years. Either they do nothing and the person is entitled to do whatever he or she likes the following day or they have a fixed period. Our position is that the onus is put on a Member that they should be careful about this, that and the other and I do not think this is practical.

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