Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to have the Minister on my debating team because, in fairness to him, he put up a good argument for a case that does not actually exist. With regard to this not being part of the Bill, the Government has brought in several Bills that have completely unrelated pieces of legislation within them, for example, the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which included the good samaritan provisions, so there is precedent for that.

The Minister mentioned the disproportionate impact on the smaller parties. Is it not ironic that the smallest party, which it has the greatest impact on, the Socialist Party, chose to give back the money, when the bigger parties have not? This is at a time when we continually preach about austerity, difficulties and the like.

Deputy Shortall referred to the concept of a review. The Minister said people could be gone for six months or more, and asked where we would put the cut-off time. This could be done through a 12-monthly review, with the funding for the 12-month period applied retrospectively or into the future, based on what the projections are on a particular date, be it 1 January, 1 July or otherwise.

The example the Minister gave of headage payments was very interesting.

I get many representations from farmers in my county, as does the Minister. If some of the cattle are not there, the farmers will certainly not be getting a headage payment for them. If they stray off the land, not only will the farmers not get headage payments for them, they will get a penalty. If we apply the same criteria here, not only would the party be giving the money back, it would be penalised. In my case, I did not stray off the land. I was kicked off it for adhering to what I saw as the basic principles and core values of a party. I do not want to quote Neil Blaney but I would certainly see it differently. I did not stray off the land. I was kicked off it.

Finally, I plead with the Minister to look at bringing in a simple piece of legislation or amendment. He could do it on the floor of the House to review the funding, for example in 12 months' time. He does not have to jump the fence today. I know he is probably under a lot of pressure behind the scenes from some of his more militant Cabinet colleagues. I think the Minister would like to accept such an amendment and bring forward such a proposal but perhaps there are forces elsewhere that are having an impact.

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