Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We held a good discussion on this point on Committee Stage. I accept the Deputy's intention, but I still consider it proper that the administration of this allowance be the responsibility of the person who is accountable for it, that is, the leader of a qualifying political party.

I will clarify the current system. The allowance is paid electronically into a specified account, the details of which are provided to the Department of Finance by the party or the leader of the qualifying party. The Department has confirmed that the accounts into which these funds are paid are separate and distinct from those provided by the parties for receipt of electoral funding. I can confirm to the House that, in respect of all of the parties, the named beneficiary to the account to which the allowance is paid is the party in each case rather than the respective party leaders. This is an important point. In most cases, the name of the account specifies that it is designated as the account for the party leader's allowance. As such, the current position is what the Deputy seeks to achieve through his amendment.

The allowance is provided to support the activities of a parliamentary party, a definition of which is provided in the legislation. Leaders of parties are and will continue to be required to account for all of the money received in respect of the allowance and specify how it is spent in accordance with the legislation. A power of oversight has been given to the Standards in Public Office Commission as well as the power to issue guidelines on best practice in the use of the allowance. The Deputy's party leader will be consulted in the preparation of these guidelines, as will the leaders of all parties, before the guidelines are determined. If the leaders consider that measures relating to the accounts used by parties are necessary, they may wish to use that opportunity to say so. However, I do not consider it proper to prescribe such measures in primary legislation. Each leader, rightly and properly, remains accountable for the money that is provided to his or her parliamentary party. In any event, Deputy Sean Fleming stated on Committee Stage that the wording he used in his amendment was not sufficiently clear as to its intent. He has not changed the wording.

I have checked and, in every case, the allowance is paid to a named beneficiary that is not the party leader.

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