Comment: The Robert Troy debacle begs the question 'What is the point of SIPO'?

If there are no penalties for consistently getting lists of assets wrong, and if selling houses to local authorities at a rate of knots is not something that needs to be declared, why would any TD bother to fill the declaration register out properly?

Minister Robert Troy has now apologised 'unreservedly' and acknowledged fully the 'seriousness' of his entries with SIPO. File Picture: Collins Photos

"What is the point of SIPO?" is a question I’ve heard asked aloud on more than one occasion over the past few days.

The reason the general usefulness of the Standards in Public Office Commission is being discussed is mostly due to the travails of Robert Troy, Minister for Trade and Integration, Fianna Fáil TD, and something of an error-prone person when it comes to filling out his declarations of interest.