Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government contains a commitment to "fundamentally change the relationship between Government and the Oireachtas, and with it the relationship between the Irish people and their parliament". It is more than two weeks since former Deputy Dara Murphy formally resigned as a Member of the House. He effectively retired from serving the people of the northside of Cork about two years ago when he accepted a role as campaign manager for the European People's Party, something the Taoiseach congratulated him on and wished him well. Last Saturday, the Taoiseach said in an interview that he would find a way to have an independent investigation into former Deputy Murphy's performance and his role as a Deputy. Despite a number of attempts by the Taoiseach to say to the Dáil that there were different mechanisms that could be used, within an hour of him saying them, they all turned out not to be based on any solid foundation. Under sections 9(3) and 9(4) of the Ethics in Public Office Act, there is a facility whereby the former Deputy could refer himself to the Committee on Members' Interests. Given all that the Taoiseach has said on the subject over the past while, has he actually asked his former colleague to refer himself to the Committee on Members' Interests under that legislation? If not, will he so do?

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