Sex used to be the big sin in Ireland but nowadays being a politician is the only sin, according to Mr Michael Ring (FG, Mayo).
In a staunch defence of public representatives, he said they were blamed for everything and nobody else got the blame for anything. "Being a politician is the only sin there is now."
Speaking during the Second Stage debate on the Standards in Public Office Bill, he accepted that corrupt politicians had to be weeded out. "If a politician of any party gets £10,000, £15,000 or £20,000 from an individual, to me that's corruption. To me they should be prosecuted."
If they accept that money "then you have committed a sin, you have committed an offence, you're being bought, you're being compromised. There's no place for you in this House. There should be no protection for you in this House."