Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The same act was practised by the Progressive Democrats for many years before the chickens came home to roost.

This is a serious issue which will impact on the next general election if the Minister gets his way. The perception that an even playing pitch can be created simply by limiting candidates' spending is a fallacy and an example of ill-thought out political correctness. For the sake of our democracy, we need to debate with greater incisiveness and clarity how Governments spread their messages, how much they spend on doing so and what is available to those who oppose Governments and other political parties.

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