Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support colleagues who called for a debate on our expenses, on politicians in general and on our relationship with the public. I agree with everyone who spoke. There is palpable anger, frustration and annoyance among the public. I agree with Senator Coffey when he says we must lead from the front. If the public saw and heard us debating our expenses, they would be quite surprised to see there is nothing going on. None of us is in politics to do wrong or to make money from our expenses. None of us does. However, when something goes wrong we are all tarred with the one brush.

Some very reasonable and good suggestions have been made today. I smiled when I heard Senator Mullen suggest we bring in an independent person to look at our expenses. I thought that was done some months ago when A&L Goodbody examined our expenses and Members, including myself, were interviewed about many matters, including expenses. I smiled when I heard Senator Mullen suggest that a member of the Judiciary might be brought in. What would the public think with regard to tribunals and the millionaires we have made out of them?