Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I refer not to leaflets but to litir um thoghcháin where the postage is paid for by the taxpayer. I suggest that one litir um thoghcháin issue and that the booklet, paid for by the taxpayer, should include the name of all candidates, as is the case on the ballot paper. All I am saying is the biggest cost in an election to the taxpayer is everybody's postage. I accept the returning officer must send a polling card to each registered voter. After that, however, there should be one communication for each candidate, rather than each candidate using the free litir um thoghchán at taxpayers' expense. That is paid for by the Department and is a major cost in elections. The matter comes directly within the remit of the Minister's Department.

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