I move:
(1) That, pursuant to the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995, a Select Committee of Dáil Éireann, which shall be called the Select Committee on Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann, be appointed to perform the functions conferred on it by that Act.
(2) That the Select Committee consist of five members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
(3) That the quorum of the Select Committee be three.
(4) That the Select Committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be chairman, who shall have only one vote.
(5) That all questions in the Select Committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of there being an equality of votes, that the question shall be decided in the negative.
(6) That, in the absence from a particular meeting of the Select Committee of a member, another member of Dáil Éireann, nominated by the party or group within the meaning of Standing Order 90 to which the absent member belongs, may take part in the proceedings and vote in his stead.
(7) That, subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance, the Select Committee shall have the power to engage the services of persons with specialist or technical knowledge to assist it in its consideration of any matter comprehended by the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995.
(8) That the first meeting of the Select Committee be held on Wednesday, 10 January, 1996.
(9) That no document received by the clerk to the Select Committee shall be withheld, withdrawn or altered without the knowledge and approval of the Committee.
We debated the Ethics in Public Office Bill, 1995, in detail and this motion is the final piece of the jigsaw. Under the Constitution this House regulates its affairs and the proposed Select Committee on Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann will deal with the interests of Members. It will offer guidance to Members on the provisions of the Act, particularly the Second Schedule which deals with registerable interests, and investigate complaints about Members. It is being given the powers conferred on other committees under the Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) Act, 1995, and will be required to act in accordance with the principles of natural justice.
The committee will be empowered to engage people with the relevant specialist or technical knowledge to assist it in the consideration of any matter. For example, it will be able to obtain legal advice if it deems it necessary. The committee represents the Members of the House and it will discharge its duties in a fair and impartial way. It will work for the benefit of Members and the public whom we serve.