Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

That is true. The transmission on radio or television of a broadcast on behalf of a candidate or political party is also included. As we live in the 21st century, how could that ever be considered to be part of an electoral expense to be declared? It is part of the normal business we conduct.

Section 6 should be contained in a separate Bill and should not form part of this legislation. It should be dealt with at length and soon. I would be very upset if it were to transpire that on the day before the next general election, some other enterprising Fianna Fáil candidate had decided to go to the courts on some pretext in an attempt to change the law once again. When we go into the next general election, we need to know beforehand the grounds and conditions on which it will be fought. Let us have no smart-alec changes in the last few days or in the course of the election campaign.

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