Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

We passed legislation in June that empowers the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to make regulations to reform the existing expenses regime for Members of the Houses. In a matter of secondary legislation, the Minister now has before him from the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission proposals for a new regime of expenses for Members that is capped and vouched. When will the Minister introduce the secondary legislation to bring this into force? It has been before him since June while the controversy about expenses for Members rages on. It is waiting for implementation by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, not by the commission, even if the Green Party thinks the commission is at fault. Green Party Deputies do not seem to know what is happening.

See this speech in context