Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I call for a debate on the Renewed Programme for Government of 10 October last. This programme for Government was negotiated by Senator Boyle. He was part of the team that led to the delivery of it. The introduction of this programme for Government states:

we have a responsibility to lead by example. ... We need to start a process...so that the highest standards apply and they are truly representative.

It goes on to state, "As elected representatives we will work to earn and repay the trust that is placed in us."

I want to ask the Government, and the Green Party in particular, whether they believe these high standards they are looking for were delivered yesterday and whether they believe their willingness to stand by a Minister who broke the law repays the trust that the people are placing in us. It says a great deal about the value Senator Boyle and his colleagues place on the institutions which they pretend to respect that he is quite happy to sit in his office tweeting away on matters about standards and problems.