The Taoiseach had shown perseverance in dealing with a serious allegation made against him, but such an unsubstantiated claim would have terminated the career of a politician of lesser standing, Mr Michael Finneran (FF) said.
Speaking in the Standards in Public Office Bill Committee Stage debate, he stressed the need for adequate safeguards to ensure that the measure did not give an opportunity for vexatious accusations to be made and then withdrawn when the damage would have been inflicted.
"All we have to do is to look at a case in point this week in our daily papers, where we see that there was a very serious allegation made against the present Taoiseach. In fact, it was alleged that the sum of £50,000 was handed over in a particular carpark in a Dublin hotel. We find this week, of course, that there is no substance whatsoever to this allegation.
"If a person of lesser standing had that allegation made against them, I have no doubt, that they would be out of public life today", he added.
The Bill, which was passed, provides for the establishment of a Standards in Public Office Commission with wide investigative powers in relation to acts or omissions of public servants or office holders.