Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The money is being paid into accounts that are not in the party leaders' names. What I was seeking to achieve was actually the case anyway. The Minister did not even need to object to the amendment, but the clarification was helpful.

The same approach could be taken in this instance. My understanding is that the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO, will introduce regulations on how these accounts should be administered. These must be clear and drafts must be given to party leaders. SIPO has a public obligation to include in the draft regulations, be they secondary legislation or guidelines on auditing standards that must be followed, the requirement for an annual tax clearance certificate. Let it be done on an administrative basis instead of through primary legislation. The essence of my point is correct, in that the State should not hand out that much money each year without tax clearance certificates. I would hand the job over to SIPO and let the Minister off the hook by requiring the inclusion of this amendment in the legislation, although I suspect he will not agree to it. As SIPO requires audited accounts, it should also require tax clearance certificates and report to the House if necessary. What I am seeking could be more simply achieved in this way than via primary legislation.

I have moved my amendment to hear a short response from the Minister, but I will not push it.

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