Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

I agree with Senator Bradford's point about buying votes, the more money one has or can give or can throw around. Presumably the aim of giving money to various people is to help the cause but there are other objectives too, asking for help to get re-elected, or whatever. Senator Bradford is right that this should be looked at. Even now, with so many cutbacks, various community organisations are writing to various political people for donations for this, that or the other. People would find it difficult to refuse community organisations that are doing good work on the ground but which may not be funded nationally. Everybody would feel obliged to contribute something. This must all be examined because it will disenfranchise people who are not well off from participating in politics. If one does not have the money to give to each organisation, however worthy the cause, one will be disenfranchised. There must be a serious examination of this.

I raised a matter on the Order of Business concerning the review of local government. The Leader told me to raise it again under this section even though it does not pertain precisely to it. It applies to the funding of politics. I do not ask the Minister for a response now on the review of local government but I wish to raise it in connection with this section because it, too, concerns funding and the application of funding. I asked that pole postering by all political parties should be banned. If we banned that practice there would not be the need to raise half the money needed for politics and everybody would be on a level playing pitch. With all the different means of communication available, a board could be established in each community funded communally, which could advertise all the politicians, and the sending of the litir um thoghcáin centrally on behalf of every candidate by political parties could be banned.