Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)

A few token men. Anything that will help is good.

The Minister addressed the issue of trade unions, which has been a bugbear for a long time. Trade unions were a major force in the funding of political parties for many years, and this was not acknowledged. It is acknowledged now, and rightly so.

My party tabled a number of amendments to the Bill when it was debated in the Seanad. We will resubmit some of those on Committee Stage in this House, particularly with regard to frontloading the 30% gender requirement for local elections.

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