Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not oppose this in principle. Deputy Fleming's view on this goes well beyond funding for activities of the Houses of the Oireachtas and he has made a reasoned case for that. It happened because people did not address it rather than it being a contrived way of doing things. It probably would be more democratic if everything was required to be brought formally to the House as opposed to being paid for from the Central Fund. However, as I said on Committee Stage, I do not believe that taking out one element, the parliamentary activities fund, when all the other elements for the Oireachtas, such as wages, expenses and so forth, are from the Central Fund would be the appropriate way to do it. However, when we next have the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill before the House, we might examine the totality of it. I do not know how my colleagues in Government would react to that, especially the Minister for Finance, who is responsible for the Central Fund, but it is something I will raise with him at that juncture.

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