Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Historically, the phrase has been used in the context of criminal bankruptcy. However, we added Deputies and Senators to the list, in terms of eligibility for membership of outside bodies. In that regard, many Acts contain a standard provision referring to criminal bankruptcy and membership of the Oireachtas almost in the same sentence. The Senator may have a point in the generality of the issue. It is a legitimate question as to whether, if a person has a difficulty at a certain period of his or her life, this should result in being permanently debarred. I will seek legal clarification on the phraseology used in advance of the matter being debated in the other House. The difficulty is that the terminology is used in the EU directive which we are transposing into Irish law. The Senator has, however, raised an interesting point.