Seanad Report: Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) asked what the policy of the Government was on the offering of bribes.
Referring to the conviction of George Redmond on a charge of corruption, Mr O'Toole said a crucial issue had been raised by the case.
"I understand it is a crime to offer a bribe in as much as this bribery is also corruption. I want to know precisely what is the law and what is Government policy in this regard. It does not do the law any good if people give evidence of offering what appear to be bribes - I choose this word wisely - on the basis of which other people are found guilty of accepting bribes and of being corrupt, without any follow-up against the people who offered the money in the first instance."
This was a major issue in terms of trust and confidence in the legal system and the way we did our business. We were entitled to hear the Government's view on this matter.
If there was a problem, or if the law needed to be changed, the House should be informed. "My understanding is that offering bribes is a crime. Are steps being taken to respond to this?"
Mr David Norris (Ind) said he supported Mr O'Toole's concern about bribery.
"It appears extraordinary that just one side of the equation is prosecuted. For a bribe to be effective, someone must make it. The initiation of the criminal act comes from someone other than the person who receives the bribe and he or she must be taken into account."
The leader of the House, Ms O'Rourke, said: "I do not know the legal position. The issues of people giving bribes and accepting bribes are never treated contemporaneously. This is a matter we should try to clear up.