Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I compliment Senator Cullinane because he has done very well in fighting off his detractors. I have a little rant coming up in a moment, but I would like to add to what has been said.

Senator Bradford has rightly opened up an important question. What happens when people receive income and claim not to take all of it themselves, but do not return it to the State or to a recognised charity? Political parties are not charities and their activities are not charitable activities, so contrary to what Senator Cullinane says, it would be better to give the money to a charity than to plough it back into the activities of a political party or an organisation. While Senator Cullinane gave a good response, he cannot have it both ways. As Senator Norris has pointed out, he does not represent a geographical constituency. He is either giving the money back to his political party, which is improper, or he is spending it disproportionately on the Waterford constituency, where he may intend to be elected at some time------