Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Under the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, this House is required to pass a resolution appointing a former Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas to the Standards in Public Office Commission. When this arose six years ago there was agreement in the House and former Member and Minister Liam Kavanagh was appointed to the commission.

Yesterday, during Question Time, I asked the Taoiseach whether the Government planned to change the membership of the Standards in Public Office Commission. He told me that it was a matter for the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, who would introduce proposals. Subsequently, I wrote to the Tánaiste asking him whether there would be consultation on the appointment, as occurred in 2001. He replied to me by telephone, for which I thank him. I accept his bona fides. He informed me that a decision had been made to replace former Member Liam Kavanagh with the former Fianna Fáil Deputy, Michael Smith.

I wish to raise a number of the matters arising from this decision with the Tánaiste. First, I object in the strongest terms to the misleading reply I received from the Taoiseach yesterday morning.

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