Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not agree we are going in the opposite direction. We are very consistent in what we are trying to do. We are trying to ensure we have arrangements that are reasonable and sensible and that do not require the commission to be involved in issues that would be regarded as being without problem. At the same time we want to have a limit that requires that the issue be dealt with properly. I do not accept that this is going in the opposite direction. We are setting out thresholds for the future as a result of what we have learnt in the past 15 years. The balance needs to be struck here. We came up with a practical and pragmatic approach that meets the requirements of the legislation and ensures that Ministers, officeholders and others do not end up making a technical breach without realising it. It is important that we get clarity on the thresholds and that these be fixed for future years also, which is fair enough.

The level of the thresholds has been a matter of Government decision. Some Deputies may have spoken in a personal capacity or whatever, but the Government is very clear that these are the thresholds that will be applied. These will be the proposals to be put to this House as they were put to the Upper House. We believe as a Government united that this is the best way forward taking all the considerations into account.

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