Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Many Bills have been sought by the Opposition over the past 12 months or more and this legislation was not included. The Bill was to be enacted in response to a debate at the time during which it was stated issues such as this should be covered by the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 and the code of conduct subsequently and that we needed a legislative base for it. It was the view of everyone at the time to bring in legislation. Now that we have brought it in, the Deputy is saying it is just political cover for something else. He cannot have it every way. At the time, he was demanding legislation.

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