Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the comprehensive response. I am very aware of the advice the then Minister, Deputy Howlin, received back in 2015. That is important, and we need to balance those rights when we are approaching this legislation. The Minister, however, is absolutely right. We have seen, on far too many occasions, the revolving door system in play and that affects and impacts on trust and confidence in politics and in these institutions. The Minister is absolutely right about that aspect. Confidence and trust in politics and the political system is absolutely imperative now. It is always important, but it is particularly important now when we see movements, right across the world, challenging politics and challenging how we do politics. There must be trust in our institutions. Our laws need to be updated to reflect some modern-day realities.

I thank the Minister for his response again. We must be mindful as well that all of this must be done holistically. I accept that we cannot simply just cherry pick certain aspects of our ethics legislation. This must be looked at in the round. I also ask the Minister to look at this area in the context of the work ongoing regarding the programme for Government commitment on a new electoral commission. All these issues must be looked at in their totality.

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