Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

It is possible for the political manipulation of funds to occur on a superficially allowable level. We know how people are coached to make applications that the process will show to have been correct, which is where flaws have appeared in the system in the past. This is why I fear such a discretionary fund may be misused and abused in the future. While I have no fear of it happening in the Minister's tenure of office, I continue to stress that we are introducing legislation that will be used by members of future cabinets with members of other political parties, perhaps including those now on this side of the House. On those grounds the Bill must be fervently opposed.

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