David Norris (Independent)

Although good relations have been established on a personal basis between us, I will not take hogwash and I do not want the Minister to take from this debate that every Independent Member kowtows to the kind of things that may be in the pipeline. I know the country is in a difficult financial situation. However, if we want the political system to work we must encourage independent voices and stop this skewing of financial and other supports.

Candidates who have the support of a political party are at an enormous advantage. The financial arrangements for elections are subtly and deliberately skewed in the direction of parties, and have been since the foundation of the State. We must have parties to have efficient government, but we also need canaries in the mine; those people who, because they are not subject to the Whip, will be prepared to say the things that are for the others unsayable and to stand out and consistently follow a line of principle.

I was not here for the early part of the debate because I was with a young gentleman who is writing a thesis on Palestine and Gaza. I told him to take the principle wherever it led him. It may lead into dangerous areas and one may be accused of certain things but one has to follow that principle. One does not become an advocate of Palestinian rights, Jewish rights, Israeli rights, women's rights or gay rights. One must be an advocate of human rights. We must protect the individual voice through this legislation.