Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Change is being implemented. The Government has decided that political donations from corporate bodies will be brought to an end. That will, obviously, include the bringing to an end of donations from trade unions.

The recommendations made in the Moriarty tribunal report on the reforms that must be implemented, including the central recommendation regarding the bringing to an end of corporate donations, will be proceeded with. There are also recommendations relating to whistleblowing and so on and they will be proceeded with in the course of time.

The programme for Government sets out a number of areas in which it is intended to have constitutional change. It includes the proposal to hold a referendum on the abolition of the Seanad. The Government intends to go ahead with that referendum, the precise timing of which has not yet been decided.

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