Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes. While I hope I can remember all the points, an important point was made by Deputy Creighton. The whole idea of this is that at the time, there was huge controversy regarding the nexus between business, developers and politics. Chunks of money were going into political parties that were not accountable. That was all changed and it was agreed that different funding mechanisms would be put in place, some of which would be State funding for the political system and for the parliamentary activities element thereof. This particular system predates all of that because this goes back to the 1930s.

It always has been felt that we organise our political system, by and large, through party politics. I acknowledge there also are many individuals, but it is through party politics in the main and party politics had to have a structural base to operate. Consequently, that system has been in place since the 1930s. I disagree completely with Deputy Mathews that this is a sticking plaster. I listened last night again to Deputy Mathews's view on these matters. He has a view that once he makes a determination on a matter, that is wholly true, right and righteous and therefore, everyone else must-----