Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not see the programme, and context is required. I have heard most of the references during the debate to the "RTE Investigates" programme. RTE trawled through details on every single politician, councillor, Deputy and Senator, and came up with a couple of bad apples. Given that everybody is presumed innocent, I will not take anybody's character in this forum. I am very proud to be part of this profession. If we, as practicing politicians, do not have the courage of our own convictions, to stand up for ourselves and our own integrity, rather than pandering to a media-led race to the bottom, God help us all. Balance must be brought in while we are debating the matter. Care and caution are required in the media's portrayal of politicians, and it has a responsibility not just to publish cheap sensationalist headlines, of which many have been put about. This must be challenged, and we are the only people who can stand up for ourselves. It is eroding the political system. The less respect people have for the political system, the less they will engage and interact with the system. This is the most significant threat to our democracy, which we all have a responsibility to protect.

An anti-corruption agency is not necessary as it would duplicate the work of a number of existing agencies and bodies such as the Garda Síochána, the Standards in Public Office Commission, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the register of lobbyists, the Competition Authority and the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.

If I were to look at this proposal in a helpful way, I would agree that there is room for some of the powers of some of the bodies I have mentioned to be strengthened. I do not believe, however, that the creation of another organisation - I hesitate to use the word "quango" - to do this work would solve any issue or be any more helpful. I would certainly support a strengthening of some of the roles and responsibilities of existing agencies. I would love to see the Standards in Public Office Commission, for example, being more proactive as that would help the political system. Although we self-declare our interests, or do not declare them in some cases, the checks and balances that are in place are insufficient. To be fair to RTE, it was very proactive in trawling through these documents and doing background checks. Perhaps we need a more proactive approach. I believe the existing bodies could do more of that. I suppose that is basically my contribution.

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