Shane Ross (Independent)

I would like to raise two issues, and perhaps we could have a debate on them in the weeks following the Easter recess. The first is No. 10 on the non-Government motions list in my name and those of Senators Norris, O'Toole and Henry. The reason I believe it would be appropriate to raise it now is because it relates to declarations of interests. Our own declarations of interests will be released shortly, as will those of the Members of the Dáil — that is a different and debatable issue — but I have a real problem with two groups which do not have to issue their declarations of interests, one of which is the Judiciary. I have never been able to understand the reason judges who make important decisions which affect a large number of people do not have to declare their interests and assets when making those decisions in case a serious conflict of interest arises.

The other problem is that a presidential election is coming up and it would appear that if any candidate is nominated from the Dáil or the Seanad, their declarations of interests will be in the public arena but if the sitting President goes forward, she will not have to declare her assets. That is an unfair position in which to put people because information on one candidate will be in the public arena but information on the other will not. A sitting President has to sign law and refer matters to the Supreme Court and those assets which he or she holds may involve them in a conflict of interest. No. 14, motion No. 10, on the Order Paper is now particularly relevant in terms of a presidential contest.

We need a commitment to a debate on the issue of property. Yesterday's report represents a superb platform for debate for this House and it would be appropriate to discuss it here. I congratulate the chairman of that committee on somehow persuading all those diverse opinions to sign a report of that sort. While I do not agree with it all — nobody could — it raises extremely relevant, pertinent and controversial issues, which we should take the lead in debating in this House.