Margaret Cox (Independent)

I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this legislation. The Tánaiste's statement that the ethics legislation should be strengthened to deal with circumstances where friends offer support for personal reasons and accepting such support should not be likely to influence an officeholder or Oireachtas Member in the discharge of his or her functions or duties is correct. However, I fundamentally disagree that the €2,000 threshold is an insignificant amount in the Ireland in which we live where the basic minimum wage is €8.65 per hour. For a person working 39 hours, this comes to €335 per week or €1,453 per month gross. An amount of €2,000 is almost six times the weekly rate for someone on the minimum wage. I do not know where the Tánaiste comes from but in Galway, €2,000 is not an insignificant amount. In my household €2,000 is not an insignificant amount and it is not good enough to suggest that it is acceptable for Members of the Seanad, Members of the Dáil and officeholders to accept gifts for personal use up to a value of €2,000 in a calendar year from any number of people.

Since I became involved in politics in 1995, the view of people has always been that politicians are dishonest, unethical and corrupt. We strengthen that image by maintaining that €2,000 is insignificant and can be accepted by officeholders without influencing them. Perhaps €2,000 would not influence me, but I would not like to put it to the test and I do not believe others should be asked to put it to the test either. If Members of this House or officeholders need to get a "dig-out", so to speak, from their friends, then let us allow them to get such a "dig-out" from their friends but only in the context that the old threshold of €650 is enough. A sum of €2,000 is too much for Members of the Oireachtas or officeholders to be allowed to accept.

Multinational organisations throughout the world have what they call a no gifts policy. They advise people dealing with their organisations not to send gifts and not to take any of their employees to lunch, send Christmas presents or buy them a drink in the local bar because they are not permitted to accept it. That represents worldwide corporate ethics. However, the Government is stating that such a level of ethical behaviour is not good enough for Members of these Houses and officeholders. We will allow a person to take €2,000 from Joe, €2,000 from Paddy, €2,000 from Paddy's wife and €2,000 from Paddy's girlfriend and it is all acceptable. An officeholder could get €8,000, €10,000 or €12,000 every year for personal reasons.

Let us say that I spend all my salary on paying my election expenses, or on gambling, drink or whatever the problem is. If people give me a "dig-out" and I am a Member of this House, I should not be entitled to such a "dig-out" without declaring it. A sum of €2,000, which is six times the weekly minimum wage, is unfair and only serves to reinforce the image that every politician is corrupt. I will not support the Bill and will call for a division on it.