Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Bill does not do that. Legislation is already in place which deals with gifts to Ministers in the performance of their duties. That is covered. This relates to the question of people who, when they are not in the public performance of their duties, receive gifts from friends or associated people. It covers a much wider and different situation than the public performance of duties. The public performance of duties issue is not changed by this Bill. It is important to note that a particular issue arose in regard to that legislation and we have to deal with it.

See this speech in context