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

I disagree entirely with the Minister. We cannot respect the will or intent of the electorate on the basis of trite snapshots after an election.

It is particularly telling that those snapshots are quite moveable in the event of a by-election from the point of view of the prevailing perspective in government and, indeed, the Minister's perspective. Frankly, that is convenient. It does not add up. It is not consistent with the Minister's overall point.

It is astonishing for a number of reasons. The financial supports for Oireachtas Members are hugely important. I can assure the Minister that when one is thrown out into the cold through no fault of one's own for upholding pre-election commitments, it is a stark and shocking position to suddenly find that the might of a political party can be used in one's name for research purposes and whatever other purposes that party determines to be appropriate. The David and Goliath factor is one aspect.

There is a much more fundamental issue. When I speak to friends from parliaments in other parts of Europe, they find it extraordinary that there is not equality between Members in this Parliament, that there are 166 Members who are elected to the Lower House on a range of bases, such as manifestos and pre-election commitments, to represent the people in their constituencies and the people of the country and they are treated differently. Some are treated with great privilege, support and resources and some are treated as poor relations, not only in terms of the resources, but in terms of speaking rights, seating rights, participation in Oireachtas debates, the right to table Private Members' legislation, etc. It is unheard of in any other parliament that I am aware of across the European Union. It is a serious issue. In my view, it is unconstitutional. Not only is that my view, but I have sought the opinion of senior counsel and I will furnish that opinion to the Minister. It is unacceptable under constitutional law, not to mention natural justice to which Deputy Mathews has already referred. It is completely incompatible with the constitutional protections to state that certain Members of the Parliament can be treated differently, with less equality and less respect, than other Members. We all are elected equally and we all should be supported equally with the resources of the State.