Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister mentioned the practice. I do not understand why the amendment relating to election postal charges cannot be accepted. Such charges do not constitute a calculated commitment. A figure is provided for letters to be sent to addresses during a referendum, election or by-election campaign. The figure varies each year. There is no reason that cannot be estimated, provision made for it and a debate held on it. I could go through several other examples. Amendment No. 5 refers to payments to political parties. People should know what next year's contribution to the EU budget will be before this year is out. The figure in question is based on GNP, a percentage of VAT and everything else.