Standards in Public Office is the title of an RTÉ programme broadcast on 7 December 2015. The programme featured three politicians, Hugh McElvaney (an independent former Mayor of Monaghan who had just left Fine Gael), Joe Queenan of Fianna Fáil and John O'Donnell (another independent), in compromising positions.Councillor Hugh McElvaney: I'm not a gombeen and I quoted £10k to make RTE sting 'sexy'VIDEO: Damning clip from RTE documentary shows Irish politicians soliciting cash from undercover reporter It was presented by Conor Ryan.Harris: I don't think Councillors in RTÉ Investigates can continue in public life
Queenan immediately resigned from Fianna Fáil.Sligo councillor resigns from Fianna Fáil after lobbying revelationsFianna Fáil councillor Joe Queenan resigns following RTE Investigates documentary: 'I knew I was being set up...I lured her into my trap' - Cllr Hugh McElvaney at centre of planning bid controversy wanted to expose RTE 'dirty tricks campaign' against him Irish independent McElvaney was asked to resign by his fellow public representatives,Monaghan County Council asks Hugh McElvaney to quitCllr Hugh McElvaney asked to resign as was O'Donnell.Donegal County Council calls on John O'Donnell to step down: Independent councillor among politicians at the centre of RTÉ Investigates programme IrishtimesCouncillors call for resignation of John O'DonnellPressure grows on councillor John O'Donnell to resign Irishexaminer All three were dismissed from their representative body, the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA), though John O'Donnell initially refused to leave and then had his membership revoked.Three councillors leave representative body: Cllr John O'Donnell's membership was terminated after he refused to resign newstalk
The programme was mentioned in both Houses of the Oireachtas. Taoiseach Enda Kenny referred to the programme in the Dáil. Senator David Norris, while expressing distaste for the actions of those involved, also criticised RTÉ's approach to their investigation as entrapment.Taoiseach speaks out after RTÉ standards in public office programme McElvaney's gestures, movements and utterances of "sterling", "money" and "loads of money" during the programme were instantly remixed with Los del Río's 1990s song "Macarena".Cllr Hugh McElvaney gets the Top of the Pops treatment Irish independentUnder-fire councillor Hugh McElvaney's RTE appearance remixed - to the tune of the MacarenaEXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Hugh McElvaney reacts to a remix made of him following RTÉ Investigates programme sunday independent
References
External links Standards in Public Office Clip - McElvaney Clip - Queenan MICHAEL CLIFFORD: Does anybody really believe ethics in public office will be an election issue?