Code of conduct: Parties fail to reach agreement

POLITICAL parties failed in a number of attempts to reach agreement on a code of conduct for TDs and senators making representations on behalf of criminals being sentenced in court.

The whips of government and opposition parties met in April 2009 following controversy over representations made in a rape case by Labour TD, now minister of state Kathleen Lynch.

A proposal to draw up guidelines was made by then leader of the Green Party John Gormley and supported by Ms Lynch, who apologised for her involvement in the case.