Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is not right in saying it was reflected from the start; it was not. For most of the operation of this system, the Government and the Opposition were supported equally. In 1996 the then Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, determined to rebalance the system when in government. There was no enthusiasm on the part of Deputy Sean Fleming's party in advance of 1996 to make the adjustment and no enthusiasm subsequent to 1996 to enhance the rebalancing introduced by the then Minister. My judgment is that it is about right. There is a requirement that Government Deputies be supported in research and so on. On our previous discussion, there will be instances when Members on the Government side will have searching points to make and they should have the support of research and so on. Obviously, they will also need access to present their views to their electorates through a press office. They will certainly require support and I believe the balance is about right.