Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to use my time to make a statement rather than ask questions, as has been outlined as a possibility, because it would be futile to ask questions at this stage. What this is all about is the Minister's inaction in relation to his SIPO declaration and the issues over the non-disclosure of postering carried out by a supporter using his business staff and vehicles. I note the Irish Independenthas reported:

The work was carried out over four days/nights over the course of the campaign; three days/nights up to polling day for a total of 10 hours and one day/night after polling day,” Mr Donohoe’s spokesperson explained.

[...]

His admission came after the Irish Independent obtained photos showing workmen using a Designer Group van putting up posters before lunchtime in early February 2016. Mr Donohoe’s office last night claimed that a review had found that around 150 posters were hung by the men ...

That is shocking bad value for the amount of money the Minister spent. The Government is trying to make light of this situation, and the Taoiseach's response today during Leaders' Questions tried to do this as well, saying it was so long ago and so on, and then trying to shut it down by saying it was up to SIPO to investigate and we should not be commenting on the matter at all. The problem is that SIPO does not have the power to deal fully with these matters. The fact that SIPO even has to wait for a complaint to be raised before it can investigate something signals the ridiculousness of the situation. That situation is the problem of the Minister and should be rectified as a matter of urgency so these matters can be dealt with properly. SIPO has raised these issues with the relevant authorities and it seems the Department with responsibility and the political system do not want to deal with it, which in itself is noteworthy. The system is great at pretending it is dealing with a situation but in reality it does nothing. That will be the big outcome from this debate and row in the Dáil today; nothing will change. That is something the Minister, because he is responsible for it in government, will be responsible for. Hopefully, when the time comes, he will be answerable for it as well.

See this speech in context