Michael McCarthy (Labour)

In case Senators are hard of hearing or missed the point, not one brown cent was accounted for. Where is the accountability and transparency? Let us not forget that it was the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, who said spending at election time was not important. It is crucial. In many cases it can influence the result, about which there is no doubt.

I have no difficulty with a decent review of election spending, an honest, balanced examination of the current limits and a review on that basis. However, I do not support the approach of announcing to the media last week, on the basis of the report by the Standards in Public Office Commission, that the limit would be increased to suit the Government. Let us take the Minister's comment and put it in context. In one of his declarations in the last two years he was one of the biggest beneficiaries in terms of donations. To make an announcement, following a report by the SPOC, that spending at election time was unimportant was nonsensical, to say the least. I urge the Government, particularly the Minister, to retain the limits as they stand. Nobody on this side of the House disputes that there was accounting. We want retention of the limits. It is of paramount importance, however, that expenditure leading up to the period of the election campaign should be taken into account.

Amendment put.