Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I congratulate the Government and the main Opposition parties on working so well together for the good of the country and on putting aside normal politics during the past couple of weeks to deliver a resoundingly successful result in the referendum. I wish to congratulate the Taoiseach in particular because the buck stopped with him. It was a major achievement for him to preside over this success.

Senator O'Toole referred to the attitude of the people to politicians' expenses. I agree with the Senator's assertion that there is a perception abroad which is not desirable from our point of view. We must put our hands up and state that mistakes were made. Those mistakes were not all made by one Government, nor were they made by one party. They certainly were not made by one individual. That individual has been extremely unfairly treated by the media in recent weeks. We must consider the role the media is playing in creating the perception to which Senator O'Toole referred and also people's distrust of politicians.

Some of the recent revelations would remind us of the worst excesses of the McCarthy era in the United States. I have been a Member for barely two years, during which time I have been subjected to seven freedom of information requests. I have no problem with them and I am happy to put on view my meagre expenses in the Oireachtas Library at any time. However, Members should consider the time and cost involved to the taxpayer. Staff in Leinster House have more to do than answer all journalists who, on lazy days when they can find nothing better to do, delve into the individual or collective expenses of Members. While some fee is payable for this service, it should be examined to ascertain whether value for money is being achieved in respect of the data being given out. If such information is so important, if the public wants it so much and if the media are so concerned about its relevance and importance, the latter should be prepared to pay for it.

On the filling of State boards, I wish to return to a point that several other Members and I have raised previously in the House, namely, the attitude displayed during the years towards city, county and town councillors. They were considered to be pariahs and people held their noses at the idea of sharing responsibility with them on boards. Many of those who held their noses are the type of people who have brought the entire body politic into disrepute.