Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is one Government policy, there is one Government and they speak as a collective, and that has not changed.

In regard to the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, it is regrettable that he used the words that he did and asked the question he did. He has admitted that he was wrong. Personally, I do not believe he should appeal the case. He made a mistake and he should definitely pay the award. It should not have happened but I know the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, and he is a genuine committed person who in no way is discriminatory or wants to see any gender inequality in society.

Equally, it poses a question, in terms of questioning the Minister of State and accountability, that Senator Mullen referenced, about how Members behalf and act, whether in this House, in television stations or on radio programmes or in committees. As Members of the House, we should act with probity at all times in the way in which we speak to each other, the way in which we speak to witnesses and the way in which we interact with witnesses at committee, as well as with Ministers and officials in this House and the other House. None of us is beyond reproach. Accountability is required of all of us for all of our actions in all parts of our lives as public representatives and we cannot be one or the other. We have to be accountable to everybody.