Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

Does the Minister of State agree that this so-called consultation process is a stalling device to ensure that allocations from the dormant accounts fund will be announced at the time most advantageous to the Government parties before the forthcoming general election? Does he further agree that this so-called consultation process is nothing more than the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues ensuring that this slush fund, which is what the Government has made of the fund, is used to maximise votes in the forthcoming general election?

Did I understand the Minister of State correctly that it is hoped that moneys which have not yet been drawn down from allocations made by the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board will be drawn down by the end of next year? Does that mean my suspicions are correct, that no further allocations will be made in 2006 and, effectively, the considerable resources of the fund, which the Government has converted into a slush fund, will be available to buy votes before the next general election?

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