Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Senators for their support. It is important that a small amount of time is made available for Ministers to come to the House for these resolutions, rather than having them dealt with pro forma. I agree with Senator MacSharry in that regard. I am cognisant of the point he made about having as broad as possible a selection of representatives of the Oireachtas, including Members of the Seanad, in the future. I am sure regard will be had to that. I look forward to coming back to the House with the new overarching legislation when the work on codifying, simplifying and consolidating the ethics law is concluded. I propose to publish draft heads in order that we can have input from Members. There is probably no other area of legislative work as important for us to get right than to have a proper and transparent ethics framework that will restore confidence in public administration in this country. I listened to Senator MacSharry as he raised an extraneous matter. I understand the passion that many Members of the House genuinely feel about the issue. I have expressed my views on it. I do not doubt we will return to the issue in question.