Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I appreciate his commitment to come back on the question of whether there was specific legal advice. Personally, I found the experience of Councillor Fiona McLoughlin Healy very disappointing and disturbing. Without going into any of the details, which are on the public record, there was a pattern of behaviour designed to personally enrich individuals who were using public office for personal gain. That is a fundamental breach of public trust. The Edelman Trust Barometer, an international survey published every year in Ireland, shows that trust in politicians in Ireland is very low. Only trust in journalists is equally low although trust in journalists is slowly improving. Despite the complications and complex issues set out in the Minister of State's response, we have to find a way to restore the public's faith in politicians. That is not a criticism of local or national politicians. It is just a statement of the fact that it has been recorded that trust is very low here. If we ask ourselves what a jurisdiction looks like-----