Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

-----most of whom are supporting the Government? Is it because the Independent Members threatened to walk if their allowance was hit in the budget? If we are to clean up the legacy of the Ahern years, this payment, a tax free, unaccountable, unvouched special arrangement for Independent Members, must go. It is wrong and has been always wrong. It was a sweetener introduced by that master politician, former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, to ensure that a wide coalition of Independents continued to support him and it worked. However, this country can no longer afford it. It is wrong that the Minister for Finance did not address this issue.

Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle would indicate at this point how much time I have left.

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