Feargal Quinn (Independent)

As the Minister knows from my words last night I do not have a difficulty with what he says. However, I entered the House 14 years ago and my concern is that in the past five or six years a number of people have told me they had considered entering parliamentary life but felt the intrusions being developed make it much less attractive than it used to be. Perhaps the Standards in Public Office Commission might consider a way to make it clear to such people that the effort is as the Minister has described. I know people who would be worthy Members of either House but have been reluctant to put their names forward because of the requirements which have developed in recent years, which they feel are intrusive. I would like to encourage them to come in and make sure they are not inhibited from doing so by new legislation which has been introduced, understandably so, in the past ten years.