Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree that we should review and strengthen the powers of SIPO with regard to its remit when it comes to standards and ethics. I am totally in favour of that and that work is being done at the moment led by the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath. I anticipate that we will see legislation next year to enhance and strengthen the role of the standards commission, which is something I strongly support. I was part of the Government that banned corporate donations, taking business money out of politics. I was part of the Government that brought in the Regulation of Lobbying Act. I was part of the Government that strengthened the freedom of information legislation. I am very much in favour of strengthening legislation on standards in public office.

I wish to be very clear. In 2019, I disclosed a Government document - it was not a contract - to somebody using an informal channel. I should not have done that. I have apologised for that. However, I did so under the authority of the Taoiseach, entirely within the law and in the public interest. I committed no crime and I did not breach the ethics Acts, the standards Acts or any code of conduct. Three bodies investigated this for two years and they more or less came to the same conclusion. It is ungenerous of the Deputy not to acknowledge that. I think it is quite petty.

There is a question I would ask of the Deputy. She was very active on radio - I think it was the "This Week" programme - and I remember it very well. She said that just because I was under investigation at the time - I am not under investigation by anyone anymore, by the way - she did not think I was fit to be elected Taoiseach or to serve in Cabinet. That is fine; that is her view. She is entitled to that view. Does that view extend to Sinn Féin? If any Sinn Féin politician is under investigation by a public body when the next election comes, will the Deputy apply the same standard to them? Will she say the Social Democrats will not allow such a person to serve in Cabinet or does she have a different standard for them than she has for us?

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