Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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Let me make one observation here, to make it clear to the people watching. This fund is paid from the Central Fund, which does not go through a Vote in the Oireachtas. In addition to the President's allowance, the Central Fund also includes payments for the Judiciary and the Comptroller and Auditor General. I am a layman, but the President's Establishment, the Judiciary, and the Comptroller and Auditor General are three independent constitutional offices. It is probably to ensure the independence of those offices from the political argy-bargy that could go on in the Dáil if judges' salaries had to go through it every year during the debate on Estimates. Whether it is right or wrong, it is an effort to keep the independence of the-----