Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will make two points. Any data or information prepared in Departments, such as reports, is not made available externally. In my period as Taoiseach we have provided large increases in the party leaders' allowances to allow political parties to access these funds. We have also increased funding for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. If the commission saw any benefits in the proposal, it should take it up with my Department. Done on a party political basis, it is much better, much more detailed and much more partisan than it is when done by a small group of civil servants.

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