Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

The message is clear: Fianna Fáil is prepared to distort the good workings of the dormant accounts fund and its board for its own ends. That is the crux and core of the matter. That very philosophy is the real reason for this legislation. We are now less than two years away from a general election and it is clear that the need to start granting political favours is a high priority in the minds of many Government members. The decision taken to double the amount to be distributed from €30 million to €60 million was likely connected to the then upcoming local elections in June 2004.

See this speech in context