James Heffernan (Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

A Private Members' motion from the Social Democrats was moved in the Dáil last night calling for the establishment of an anti-corruption agency. This is most timely. It is something we announced a number of weeks ago. The "RTE Investigates" programme was only the tip of the iceberg. Corruption is endemic in public life and includes more than just three county councillors. It stretches to the heart of what we do. We have seen it in the past in respect of various tribunals such as the Mahon and Moriarty tribunals and issues relating to land rezoning. There could have been a tribunal for each local authority in the country. If one scratches the surface in respect of many of the land banks that could no longer be financed by local government, were bought at a premium level during the boom years and are now under the Local Government Management Agency, which is essentially a NAMA for local government, and if one saw the deals that were done in acquiring those sites one would draw some very interesting conclusions. From issues relating to Anglo Irish Bank, which has become IBRC, to the sale of Siteserv and NAMA properties, one can see that it is rotten. Some parties are decrying it when they have been complicit in it for many years. Some of the more newer Members of Leinster House have been giving out about corruption. Parties that cover up other areas like child abuse and sex offences cannot have any credibility when it comes to issues relating to corruption.