Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

Senators Cullinane and Norris spoke on it for approximately half an hour. Senators should not have constituency offices and we would do the House a service if we banned such offices altogether. We can do research in our offices with the library facilities here. We would do the Seanad a service if we banned them because Senators are different from constituency politicians and we have to recognise that.. We would be doing ourselves a service if we looked at that.

There should also be some transparency as to who is providing the funding to political associations, whether women's political associations or men's political associations. If the funding is going to women in politics, then they should fund all women in politics. When the Council for the Status of Women was established it became the council for the women of status. We do not want a situation where some women are funded while others are not, be they members of whatever organisation. We have to be careful. Transparency at all costs is necessary.