David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know that these things are put in as a matter of course, excluding Members of the Seanad, the Dáil and the European Parliament, but why? I ask the Minister of State to give me the rationale. What exactly is so poisonous about being a Member of the Oireachtas? Why should somebody who one day is sufficiently qualified to be a member of Bord na gCon be ruled out? I do not see the need for this and have opposed these sections on many occasions. It seems daft to me, unless it is because one assumes Members of Parliament are fully occupied with being Members, but I would not think being a member of Bord na gCon was a very onerous duty. I would think most people involved were full-time professionals of some kind. I do not see the time constraints. If we trust people to legislate, what, in the name of God, prevents them from being on the board for the greyhound industry? I do not see any reason for it. It is self-flagellation by politicians to show that we are incorruptible. The public does not believe it anyway and thinks we are all corrupt. If one was to take off all of one's clothes, give all of one's money to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and dance naked along the roof of Leinster House, people would still ask, "So what?" The public is not impressed. I question why Members of the Oireachtas should be excluded from membership of the board. One cannot even be a director of a subsidiary if one is a Member of the Oireachtas. It is complete nonsense. I oppose the section.