Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 June 2003

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage.

 

The obvious question relates to what happens after the three-year period has passed. It would be ideal if the commission or its staff were to know when funds need to be replenished. A very brief Act would be required to replace the figure mentioned in this Bill and to specify the period to be covered by the new figure. The figure would be determined in an agreement between the Minister for Finance and the commission. If money runs out when the Houses are not sitting or when such legislation cannot, for one reason or another, be fitted into the parliamentary calendar, the old system of voted moneys does not kick in. In such circumstances, the commission would be empowered to continue its activities, up to a limit of half of the previous year's spend. A similar arrangement applies to the spending of voted moneys in advance of the passing of the Estimates.

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