Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Our Bill in May contained some of that Bill's measures along with the Moriarty tribunal's recommendations. For some reason, the Minister keeps on with the untruth that there was no Bill ready.

The Minister queried some of the text of our Bill. In my opening speech, I outlined a novel way of allowing this Bill progress to Committee Stage. In turn, external experts could address the committee to ensure different perspectives on our proposed changes would be available. This would be a novel way in the parliamentary system to deal with proposed changes to the Constitution. If there are flaws in the Bill's text — I did not claim infallibility — we would welcome amendments or enhancements to it.

The Minister, however, has decided to mow it down before it gets off the ground. I am disappointed with this approach. I had believed the Minister would have allowed the Bill progress to Committee Stage at which all parties and external contributors could have made observations on it. All parties — that includes Fine Gael and the Labour Party — signed up to a ban on corporate donations. It is regrettable they are no longer going to do so. Neither should they have made the commitment in the first place if they did not intend to follow it through.

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