Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Yes, it should apply to all elected representatives. I was a member of the former western health board and when a home in my county came under serious pressure to be closed. I resisted that to the best of my ability but I was in a difficult situation as a member of the board whose executive was introducing enforcement orders against this well-run home. The building was not great but the home was good. At times it may be invidious for a member of a local authority or of the Oireachtas to be a member of the Health Information Quality Authority when a compromise arises, for example, a repeat of the Leas Cross case.

The Parliamentary Counsel appears to have inserted these provisions irregularly. I feel so strongly about this that if it goes to a vote——