Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have had hours of debate on this issue in both Houses. There were long presentations on Second Stage. As I stated, I fully respect the point of view of every Member who feels that the allowance should be portable, that it should not be determined in the immediate aftermath of the election and apportioned out to support the parliamentary activities as determined by the electorate at a point in time, and that if Members move their political allegiance for whatever reason, following expulsion or voluntarily, that allowance should be portable to some degree with them.

There are different amendments to it. Some have proposed that the allowance should migrate with the Member. Some have suggested a proportion, as has this amendment, analogous to the division that would be the Member's due as a member of a defined parliamentary party. Others say that it should be foregone completely and kept within the Exchequer. These all are valid perspectives.

I argue - it is my view which that has been endorsed by Government - for the traditional way that this is done, that this is determined subsequent to the vote of the people after a general election and that it is not a portable allowance to be determined by the individual Member thereafter, either to migrate in or out, as some Members have. Some Members have temporarily left a party. An allowance is not portable to go with them. It is determined in a snapshot after the general election and that is the valid snapshot, unless there is a by-election where it applies between then and the next general election, until the people have their say again. I note Members have different strong and honourably-held views, but that is my view.