Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 6, line 1, to delete "50" and substitute "182".

On behalf of the Labour Party, I moved a Private Members' Bill more than one year ago on the issue of electoral spending. Earlier in his address, I note the Minister mentioned and gave credit to the Labour Party as the party which has consistently called for this move and that it has been a driving force on this issue throughout the years.

I welcome the legislation from the Minister, but there is an issue with regard to the running of elections. General elections are a matter of fate, determination or decision, whereas local elections are on a five-year schedule. The date of the next local elections is predictable. Whether one is a sitting councillor or an incumbent, it is likely that candidates for the next local elections will be in the field in approximately two or three years time, because project management of local elections has become of this fashion. Hence, there is extensive spending during these periods.

I refer to Deputy Shatter's earlier remarks. All the research shows that there is a clear correlation and connection that money spent on elections determines the outcome. The report compiled by the Oireachtas Library for the Oireachtas Select Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, a copy of which was provided to the Minister, highlights numerous such examples. The purpose of the amendment tabled by the Labour Party is to adjust the time line. I accept that given that local elections are to be held this year, something had to be done and some structure had to be in place for these elections. However, I believe we need a longer time line to monitor expenditures.

To some extent, such a provision is to the benefit of a candidate, because it does not allow a situation where people with extensive resources and a great deal of finance available to them are able to frontload their advertising before the scheduled date from which the expenditure is accounted. I call on the Minister to revise his opinion on this issue, to extend the duration of the period in which costs can be accounted for and to take on board the Labour Party's amendment.

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