Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to answer that question as far as I can. Yes, I am satisfied that the moneys allocated to the parliamentary activities allowance to be, that is, the party leader's allowance up to now, can only be expended for the specific purposes designated in the Act and they are set out in the Act. As to whether other funds that are generated elsewhere can be used for the same type of activities, of course they can, if a party generates separate funds for that purpose. However, this funding is for the designated parliamentary activities and the party must be accountable for every euro that it is properly and appropriately allocated. Moreover, the Government is now broadening that accountability to people who received funding under this heading previously but who were not required to make such declarations and to submit those reports.