Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister rightly stated, we have rehearsed this previously. The position is that something that is self-evident does not need to be stated and that if it is stated, it needs to be replicated everywhere. I am not sure I agree with that. In a Bill as fundamentally important as this, to state that members will act "independently, impartially and in accordance with law" is obviously a clearly understood principle, but it should be a stated principle. Even if it is part of the attestation made by gardaí when they graduate from Garda college, that is not a legal requirement, I presume. To break it is not a legal matter. This would be a matter of law, so anybody reading it would understand that it is there. I will not labour the matter any further, but I think it would improve the Bill to have such fundamental issues crystalised and set out in clear legislation.

See this speech in context