Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to introduce spending limits for candidates in the 2009 local government elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27585/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In accordance with the programme for Government, I recently published the Green Paper on local government reform, Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change. The Green Paper outlines a range of issues for consideration, including the establishment of expenditure limits at local elections.

The submissions made in the course of the preparation of the Green Paper were generally supportive of some expenditure limit. The Green Paper outlines two main options with regard to such limits for local elections, to introduce a fixed expenditure ceiling or to link limits to a proportion of Dáil expenditure. It states that care needs to be taken to ensure against overly bureaucratic rules and suggests that it may be useful to engage on the issue on a cross-party basis. In this regard, I have written to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with a view to engaging with the committee and to explore the scope for an all-party approach to this issue.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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The Leas-Cheann Comhairle was the Minister who introduced section 72 of the Electoral Act 1997 which would allow the Minister to make regulations limiting election expenditure in local elections. I would like a straightforward commitment from the Minister that he will introduce limits on spending in next year's local elections. The Green Party and the Labour Party have a lot in common. Neither party receives pots of money from business. No matter what one may state about this, both parties know we are similar in this regard and the Minister could address the uneven playing pitch.

The Minister, who is a member of the Green Party, is introducing bits and pieces which I welcome and we have a lot in common. This type of measure would make a real difference. A date can be fixed for local elections in a way which it cannot for general elections. It is absurd that we have spending limits in general elections and not in local elections. Somebody could spend €100,000 on a local election campaign and while this is rare, it happens. A fraction of this is spent on general election campaigns.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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If it is so absurd why did the Labour Party not introduce it when it had the opportunity?

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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We introduced the legislation and we brought in the limits for general elections.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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However, it was not done for local elections. I recognise that it was a progressive move on the part of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle when he was Minister to introduce such measures and the same Government introduced other measures, such as the Freedom of Information Act. I have always been on the record with regard to these matters.

Last week, Deputy Tuffy's colleague, Deputy Ciarán Lynch, recommended an approach to electronic voting which I referred to a committee where it could be discussed and an article on this was published in The Irish Times. I have done the same with this matter. I want to get all-party consensus on this issue and this should be possible. It is recognised that we have an anomaly whereby limits are in place for general elections but no such limits exist for local elections.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Minister will have our full co-operation in case he thinks I am down on him all day.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy and I appreciate it very much.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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It is generous.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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We had examples in the past where there were expenditure figures for local election candidates of approximately €100,000, which is ridiculous.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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We know one or two of them

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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This is not tolerable. It is like the United States, with the best democracy money can buy. We must get away from this.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Consensus is good and I have no problem with it. Has Fianna Fáil stated the Minister can do this in time for next year's local elections?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Will it allow the Minister to do so?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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When I say "all-party consensus" I include my Fianna Fáil colleagues——

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Has it agreed yet?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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——with Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats——

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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There are no Progressive Democrats.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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——the Labour Party, Sinn Féin and Independents. Everyone can come and bring a little bit to the party. I am sure we can make progress on this.