Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Senator Bannon has made a valid argument but I am not sure the amendment, as tabled, is correct in that I believe we need controls in this area. If not, there is a danger that a person could interrupt an election by registering 1,000 candidates thereby resulting in one never finding the correct candidate. The current provision which requires a candidate to have 15 supporters may not be ideal. I would have been happy to support the amendment if it had offered an alternative. It is not a good idea to simply abolish the provision. While I would like the system to be eased in terms of Independent candidates putting their names forward, some sort of controls are required in this area.