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

This is relevant because the Minister has made the point that we are elected on a platform before an election and that if we walk away from that it is tough luck. In fact, it is not that simple. The individuals are punished through this legislation while the political parties get a bonus for reneging on pre-election commitments because they have fewer people on whom to spend the funds. When a party presents itself for election and individuals present themselves as candidates for that party, it is about a lot more than simply a logo.

Deputy Naughten made a very valid point about the changes that occur if a party leaves Government and the composition of a Government changes mid-way through its term. It puts paid to the Minister's argument that this is on the basis of a snapshot on polling day, because clearly it is not. It can change. There is movement, flexibility and fluidity. This legislation tries to deny that but then goes on, in section 12, to acknowledge it, so it is completely inconsistent, as Deputy Fleming has pointed out.

My purpose in saying that Oireachtas Members should be treated fairly and equally is not to say that everybody should be treated exactly the same way. I appreciate that in a democracy there is a value in supporting smaller parties - I advocate that. I appreciate that when parties are in government there is an argument for having a lower amount of funding than for parties in opposition. However, I fundamentally object to the complete and abject discrimination against Members, which is what this legislation copperfastens and enshrines in the Statute Book. It is complete discrimination, which suggests that certain Members are lesser beings and have no right to any support under this legislation as a sort of punishment at the whim of the Government. That is essentially what we are talking about.

I agree that the composition of committees needs to be proportionate and I have not suggested otherwise. However, it is completely disproportionate to exclude 10% of Oireachtas Members from committees. Applying any of the normal procedures in other parliaments, including the d'Hondt system and any other system, which reflect proportionality, no entire cohort of parliamentary Members would be excluded completely from participating, voting, speaking, receiving documentation, etc., on committees.

My final point is very relevant to the Minister's party and his colleagues in government. Approximately six weeks ago the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, on behalf of the Government, answered a series of questions on the matter. When he was asked what happened to Democratic Left when it left the Workers' Party, he explained that it was a merger process. It was a merger process that took eight years, the longest merger process known to man. In the meantime Democratic Left was recognised in this Parliament. Its Members had the right to join committees, the right to speak in Parliament, and the right to table motions, Private Members' Bills, etc.

So what is the difference between Democratic Left and those of us who have been excluded from our parliamentary party? There was a difference of opinion, some chose to leave and ultimately in seven or eight years joined the Labour Party. However, for those seven or eight years they were not discriminated against. Although I was quite young at the time, I vaguely remember Members, including the now Tánaiste, objecting and jumping up and down on the floor of the Dáil until they got speaking rights and recognition in the Parliament. I would nearly hazard a guess that they got their entitlement in terms of State funding also. It is an extraordinary lapse of memory. Given that some of those Members are in senior positions in government, it is extremely sad.