Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Bradford. Significant money is wasted on election campaigns and expenditure should also be examined. I am prepared to do that and I will publish legislation later this year entitled the electoral (amendment) (referendum spending and miscellaneous provisions Bill. It is an unwieldy title but it will do what the Senator wants. That will give us an opportunity to tease out expenditure matters in respect of all elections, including referenda. There is currently no requirement on groups campaigning in a referendum to declare what they have spent or the sources of their income. Referenda campaigns involve decisions on matters that have significant and far reaching effects on the country and, therefore, it is important that citizens know how much is being spent on campaigns and where it is coming from.

Currently, the spending limits for elections apply only to the period up to polling day and in the past I and others have expressed legitimate concerns about how candidates get around the limits by spending significant amounts before the clock starts to tick in a campaign. This is an issue of concern and it will be addressed in the legislation later this year.

Senator Keane referred to banning posters but a freedom of expression requirement is enshrined in the Constitution. People have a human right to express themselves in a certain form. We might have a discussion about how that is best expressed without the waste that is experienced.

One can pick any figure one wishes for the donation limit, as the correct figure is subjective, but it must be picked for practical reasons so that an individual or a political party is tied up with the administrative bureaucracy associated with reporting to SIPO. The responsibilities are onerous and if one does not comply 100% with them, one will find oneself in the public eye for not declaring. A penalty is built in through the publicity candidates generate by not complying with SIPO request relating to compliance. The limit of €600 is reasonable. I am reducing the limit for corporate donations to political parties to €200 and that is a substantial reduction. I gave a commitment to do that in the election campaign and I am following through on that. I am sure Senator Power will not disagree that Fianna Fáil had 14 years to do this and did not do it.