Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

Perhaps those who have been Members for longer can tell me, but I have no recollection of a Member of either House resigning over the excessive spending of taxpayers' money. It is an historic first. We must recognise the considerable and palpable anger of the general public. It is like an open sore. This is not just a question of a senior Member on the Government side resigning over excessive expenses. Rather, there is a sense that the matter goes even wider. We should be seeking the establishment of a commission along the lines of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine expenses across all Departments. When matters move on, there is a sense that yet another Minister will be on the firing line. Many Senators know of a few Ministers who are predisposed to excessive spending of taxpayers' money, be it on haircuts, meals or international flights. Unfortunately-----