Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Extravagance and the waste of taxpayers' money is never acceptable. Does the Taoiseach agree that in the current economic climate, where people are losing their jobs and people's incomes are under pressure and they are finding it hard to make ends meet, that the kind of lavish expenditure we have now become aware was going on over a number of years is particularly unacceptable? Would he agree that the era of the €900 hotel room must now be a thing of the past and that it is necessary to convey to the public that that day is over? One way of doing that would be progressing the new ethics Bill which has been lying around for three years? On 10 October 2006 the then Tánaiste, Minister McDowell, told the media that the new ethics Bill was to be brought before the Oireachtas as a matter of urgency. It came before the Seanad but was not brought before this House.

The Taoiseach makes it sound as if the reason it has not come before the House is due to a scheduling difficulty between the Whips. Clearly, a political decision has been taken that this Bill will not be progressed. I have never seen a Bill lying around as long as this one. I agree with Deputy Kenny on the raising of the thresholds, which is something I do not agree with. It would provide an opportunity for the House to address some of these issues in a legislative way and it should be brought before the House as soon as possible.

See this speech in context