Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Taoiseach states that the programme for Government is subject to the economic situation. I will raise two matters that could not be argued to be subject to the economic situation. The first is the commitment in the programme for Government to establish an independent electoral commission which would address issues such as the Dáil electoral system, numbers of Deputies and so on. What has happened to this commitment and when are we likely to see the commission established?

I was not clear about the reply the Taoiseach gave Deputy Kenny in respect of the commitment in the programme for Government to introduce legislation to ban corporate donations to political parties. Will the Taoiseach be more specific about when the House will see this legislation? I understand there was a commitment that in line with the legislation, a political fund would be established to which businesses would contribute generally and which would be disbursed on a proportionate basis among political parties. What has happened to this commitment? Will a political fund be established before the general election?

See this speech in context