Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

I ask for a debate in the House on the role of civil and public servants within this State. They have always remained very impartial in the way they carry out their duties. It is very important that when senior civil and public servants make public comments they are seen to be impartial by those who listen to their remarks.

I express concern at some of the comments made by the Governor of the Central Bank on the day of the local elections. He made a statement that the economy was improving without backing it up by any means. Any report published up to that time and since would not have given the same positive account. We should debate the matter to ensure people are not being influenced and people do not express their opinions publicly when their role is clearly to serve the State and the people impartially.