Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

No, but this is the benefit of looking at things afresh from scratch. One does not start adding and subtracting wings, chains or wheels to the first aeroplane or prototype that did not fly. One goes back to the drawing board with one's theory and then with one's practical application of theory and one tries it again. I believe we have reached that stage. As Deputy Fleming has proposed, one starts off with one's tax clearance certificate as one's initial political and financial health screening. I believe the point he was trying to make is there should be a continuing good health certificate tax-wise each year for everyone who is a direct or indirect beneficiary. People benefit indirectly if it is through a party and directly if it is through an individual. If someone leaves a party, the amount of money that is dedicated towards his or her parliamentary activities allowance arguably should be increased because he or she has fewer resources. Such people lack the resources available to a member of a party in government for which additional departmental resources are available. Consequently, I invite the Minister to start thinking again afresh. It is not that difficult, it is easier than trying to argue and validate amendments to an existing framework that is somewhat leaky.