Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

The Taoiseach is one of the lucky Deputies who have constituency offices in respect of which they do not have to pay rent. Would the Taoiseach like to comment on the level of fairness in that regard? I refer to the fact that Deputies like him, who have property, are able to base their constituency offices in their own properties, whereas Deputies who have no property have to pay the commercial rate to rent such offices. Both categories of Deputy are treated the same by the Oireachtas, essentially. Is there not a need to look at that from the point of view of fairness? Although the Taoiseach is benefiting from this arrangement, I am sure he empathises with those of us who do not have the fortune to have mighty trusts providing us with offices free of charge.

I would like to ask a question that relates to the Taoiseach's own office. Will the Taoiseach tell the people in his office that it is not appropriate to send electoral material in Oireachtas envelopes with Christmas cards? The Taoiseach's Christmas cards include a request for people to help him with his canvassing or with anything else he needs to get re-elected. Has the Taoiseach given an instruction to his officials in that regard? While my colleague, Patricia McKenna, welcomed the Taoiseach's Christmas greetings, it came as a bit of a shock to her to be asked to help with the Taoiseach's canvassing. I thought it was quite audacious of the Taoiseach to make such a request. Will the Taoiseach advise his officials in that regard? None of us, least of all the Taoiseach, wants to get into trouble for flouting electoral regulations.

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