Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I do not want to divide the House over the guillotine on this Bill, but the Labour Party Members are anxious that the House debate amendment No. 3 in the names of Deputies Ciarán Lynch and Joanna Tuffy. The purpose of the amendment is to give effect to the promises made by the Taoiseach at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, who is taking this Bill, at the Green Party conference last weekend that the maximum amount that can be donated to a political party will be reduced and that there will also be a reduction in the level at which contributions must be publicly declared. The Labour Party is anxious that the House has the opportunity to debate this amendment so we can put into law the commitments given by the Taoiseach and the Minister and which the Labour Party supports. Perhaps the Tánaiste will be able to give the House some comfort by assuring it there will be time to debate this amendment.

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