Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Correct, but to try to understand whether Deputy Fleming's amendment is valid or can be applied or whether a new wording can be found that might be acceptable to the Minister, I am trying to establish what is a very important point. The funds are clearly specifically designed for parliamentary activity. While I understand that completely, it is not clear to me that they are paid separately to a parliamentary party as distinct from a party. My hunch is that it is paid into a general fund, which is administered by a party, presumably largely in compliance with the legislation used to pay salaries for research and parliamentary activities. However, can one be certain of this? Is that actually spelled out? Is the Minister satisfied that the main political parties in the State actually spend it that way, that is, that they spend it separately and distinctly from all the other moneys that either are raised through fund-raising or through the Electoral Acts and so on? Do they have two distinct vehicles, if one likes, for expenditure of these moneys, one in compliance with this legislation and one in compliance with their other obligations under the Electoral Acts? I am not clear in this regard and that is the essence of my question. I am not making a speech but am asking a question.