Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit.

I welcome the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 which amends the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 to provide for the introduction of limits on expenditure by candidates and political parties at local elections. These new limits will be put in place for the forthcoming local elections to be held on 5 June 2009.

There are currently no limits on local election expenditure. During the last local elections, an inordinate amount of money was spent by certain candidates. It was, however, interesting to note they were not successful. It is important to remember one cannot buy the hearts and minds of people. An election, whatever its status, is about the candidate's standing in his or her area. That is reflected in the ballot box which gives the true meaning to the concept of democracy.

The Bill tidies up any confusion as to what can be spent by candidates. What obtained heretofore with no limits on spend put some candidates at a real advantage. Spending on flashy posters and advertising was a practice pursued by some. I have always believed resources are far better invested on canvassing on the doorsteps, which is free. Where I come from, the vote is won on the doorstep. It is not won by posters on telegraph poles, walls or trees. It is won by candidates knocking on doors, giving an account of their stewardship to the electorate. The electorate will then give account when they cast their votes. It is a very fair system.

There was an idea abroad that Fianna Fáil candidates were consistently the highest spenders in local elections. Such an idea is outdated and inaccurate. Every party has its high fliers and we may have had some in the past. However, Fianna Fáil would not be alone in this and would not have to go too far to find partners in this House.

The introduction of spending limits will create as level a playing field as possible to ensure candidates of modest means are not put at a disadvantage in contesting local elections. As local election campaigns become more professional, these new standards will bring local elections in line with other electoral codes where spending limits already apply. In preparing this legislation, a variety of stakeholders was consulted by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley. I compliment him on his fairness and his commitment to his brief. He has discharged his brief in the most exemplary manner. Representatives from the main local government associations were consulted, including the Association of City and County Councils, my nominating body, the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, the County and City Managers Association, the Local Authority Members Association and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The committee examined how to strike a balance in determining the limits. If limits were set too low, they might impede candidates' chances. The committee also had to consider the differences between campaigning in larger electoral areas. The legislation reflects the committee's recommendations that candidates in more populated areas should be allowed spend more money. The legislation also sets different limits for town and borough councils.

For the 34 county and city councils, a sliding scale with four separate spending limits, based on the population within each individual electoral area, will apply. A top limit of €15,000 will apply in the most populated areas, with limits of €13,000, €11,500 and €9,750 to apply to candidates in other county and city council electoral areas, depending on their population size. Due to their different administrative responsibilities, a standard spending limit will apply to all 80 of the borough and town councils. Candidates standing for election to these local authorities will be subject to a spending limit of €7,500 in all cases.

There are town council areas with a greater population than some county council areas. The five borough councils, Drogheda, Kilkenny, Wexford, Clonmel and Sligo, and the three 12-seater town councils, Bray, Dundalk and Tralee, all cover large populations. There are other large town county council areas such as Mullingar, where I am privileged to live, Athlone, Ennis, Leixlip and Greystones. Bray, for example, has a larger population than two particular county council areas. However, the spending limit for candidates in the borough council areas has been set at €7,500. I respectfully suggest the Minister revisits this limit because it is not fair on candidates. It is as expensive for a town council candidate in these large population areas to buy posters as it is for a candidate in a county council area. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Kitt, has made an honest effort in getting these limits right but I do not believe they are fair, as currently set. I have used the word "fair" on a number of occasions about this Bill, and will continue to do so. To be fair to the Minister and Minister of State, when drawing up this legislation they set out to ensure it reflected what is fair and right. I believe the Minister of State, who has vast experience over 30 years in public life, will agree it is an area that should be revisited. It is too little for the candidates who are standing for election in the local authorities I mentioned.

Postering was referred to in some detail by my colleague. There have been instances where candidates have put up three, four and even five posters on a structure. Am I correct that in future a candidate will only be allowed to put up one poster on a pole, wall or other structure? In many cases the multiple posters squeeze out the opposition as there is no room left on the pole or structure for other candidates' posters. That is not right. There should be a single poster for the candidate on the structure.

The time limit for the removal of posters is correct. There is nothing as annoying or infuriating as posters still in place saecula saeculorum after the election is over. It might be carelessness on the part of some candidates or triumphalism on the part of others, who wish to remind the people that they won. Whatever the reason, they should adhere to the time limits for the removal of posters. In cases where Tidy Towns committees have asked candidates not to indulge in postering, they have mainly complied with that. If no candidate puts up posters, the playing pitch is level and the issue does not arise.

I started in public life 30 years ago in 1979, when I was elected to Mullingar Town Commission, as it was known then, and Westmeath County Council on the same day, 8 June. Public life has changed dramatically since then. At that time there was one meeting per month of the county council. There might be an odd area members' meeting, a roads meeting, lights meeting, an estimates committee meeting and a statutory estimates meeting. There might also have been one or two sub-committees. One also might make a few visits to the planning or housing sections. Life is very different now for local authority members. Now, it is a full-time job. Giving any type of commitment to a county council, county borough council, borough council or a town council — I have already named some of them — is virtually a full-time job. I ask the Minister of State to liaise with the Minister, Deputy Gormley, to consider what other supports could be put in place to assist local authority members. There is no doubt that matters have improved for them but there is room for further improvement.

Deviating again a little from the content of the Bill, I am pleased with the establishment of the policing committees. I am a member of a couple of them. I am pleased the then Minister of State in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Willie O'Dea, acceded to the request of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland that he ensure each town council had a policing committee. Crime is committed by people and people generally live in towns. I am a countryman living in a town and I am very proud of my country roots, but there are many areas with large populations that do not have local authorities. I ask the Minister to examine that situation.

The Bill is welcome. The Minister and Minister of State made a serious effort to address the inadequacies in the existing legislation. I could speak at length but I will simply take this opportunity to wish the Bill well. I wish success to all the people who will contribute to the concept of democracy by standing for election in the local elections. All of them cannot win but one cannot have winners unless there are losers. I commend the Bill to the House.