Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

An independent electoral commission is necessary. I sometimes wonder whether the Government Members understand this. Do they really want such a commission? Is there an over-reliance on the members of the Green Party? Do some Government Members say they will pander to the Greens, put out this great concept and then forget about it? I hope we will not do that.

It makes no sense that Leitrim is divided into so many different parts. It should be part of a constituency where it has a chance of having a Dáil representative elected, such as it had with the former constituency of Sligo-Leitrim. Mr. Gerry Reynolds of Fine Gael was a great Deputy but his chance was taken away.

The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, is present in the House. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, and the Department should consider introducing spending limits for the period between elections. The situation at present is crazy, given that people can frontload spending in the months before an election and spend thousands if not hundreds of thousands of euro. It is not a level playing field. If we want to enhance democracy, let us have a level playing field where the ordinary person can participate. I would like the Minister of State to bring the following message to the Minister. Let us introduce spending limits for the period between elections as part of the work of the commission because it is badly needed. The situation at present is a joke because the system can be abused and there is no accountability. We need to have traceability for the period between elections.

I commend Senator Coffey on his fine speech. We on this side of the House are in favour of the commission. Let us introduce it sooner rather than later.