Seanad debates

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

10:30 am

Photo of Terry BrennanTerry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the "RTE Investigates" programme last night. Some of the evidence that was presented to us was horrifying.It was damning and representative of the very worst moral and ethical standards in public life in Ireland or elsewhere. The programme has done some service in shining a light on this darkest recess of the political system. However, in the midst of the justifiable fury it has caused, it must not be forgotten that the vast majority of councillors are honourable and just people who do not deserve to be held to account for the deplorable actions of a small number of individuals. Councillors - I have received telephone calls from three or four of them from various parts of the country - who have dedicated much of their lives to serving the public with the utmost integrity and endeavour, many of whom are working for their communities on a full-time basis with modest rewards, are waking up this morning knowing that they will face unwarranted criticism and suspicion, from their communities because of the shameful actions of those witnessed by Members on national television last night. I received telephone calls from a couple of them after the programme had been broadcast last night. However, Members cannot allow the unlawful and immoral actions of a few to sully the reputation and honour of the many councillors who hold office throughout the country. It is incumbent on them to issue a message of support to councillors and a message to the public that they should not devalue and sour the work of their representatives by tarnishing them with the same brush as those who were exposed last night. In the interests of the huge majority of upstanding, hard-working councillors, those who last night brought such shame to their vocation should face the full rigour of the law. Some of them think they have conveniently sidestepped the juggernaut of public opinion and culpability by resigning from their parties, but they should know that that is not enough.

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