Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We also intend to publish amendments to the freedom of information legislation. We have effectively abolished corporate donations, something which people have been seeking for a long time. All of these changes were introduced in a very short period of time. To suggest that nothing has been done is untrue.

On the question of the cost of the referendum, the most recent examples would suggest it will be somewhere in the region of €15 million to €17 million. As I understand it, however, there are at least two proposals, possibly three, to put to the people in the referendum we are holding in the autumn. On any cost benefit analysis, therefore, the specific cost of the abolition proposal itself will be some €4 million or €5 million.