Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I will return to less controversial and sensitive matters. Deputy Gormley referred to the amount of money spent recently on election posters. The main Opposition party has done the same, as it is entitled to do. It is not breaking any law or trespassing on anybody's rights in so doing. The Deputy asked where the money would come from and suggested a post hoc arrangement, whereby such expenditure between elections would be considered improper. This touches on another issue, namely, election spending and how it is contributed to. There is room for debate on that matter. A number of Members take the view that taxpayers should pay, while others say they should not.

The legislation before us is well balanced and deserved a more focused debate than it received in the House today. It will not do violence to those who want to pursue elections on a non-party basis, as one or two non-party or Independent candidates recognised.

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