Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

There is the danger that this could give a certain advantage to the incumbents as opposed to the individual who is starting off. Serious consideration will have to be given to designating areas for posters because they destroy the countryside, are an unnecessary expense and are a massive headache for the public and the politicians taking part. There is a need to designate areas in constituencies where posters can be erected.

There is much emphasis on election spend once elections have been called. I have to be honest and say that the system has been circumvented by many politicians and political parties. We need a transparent system with regard to election spend and how fundraising is carried out. I am a strong advocate of limiting the election spend between elections. There are some people out there who spend an inordinate amount of money between elections, trying to soften up the electorate. It is unfair that votes can actually be bought. Perhaps the spend should be limited to a couple of grand every 12 months on a politician promoting himself or herself, as distinct from giving out information to the public. We have to look at curtailing the buying off of community groups with sponsorship and so on.

The final issue relates to the last referendum and the McKenna judgment. The Government must examine that judgment, not in the context of Lisbon but in the calm light of day, because it is undemocratic; it is outrageous. I tried to get on local radio during the Lisbon treaty campaign but failed. Who decides what is 50% of the "No" side? How is that determined? The Lisbon treaty referendum result was determined on the basis of the access to finance that people had. That is not a democratic system.

See this speech in context