Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

I wish to make the point to the Minister of State that Fine Gael supports this legislation and does not intend to obstruct its workings. The Fine Gael Party fully understands the position and is aware of the probable need to make significant reductions to many aspects of Members' pay and conditions. The Fine Gael Party does not have a different view in this regard. I sought acknowledgement that the role of a Deputy or Senator is broader than one might imagine and that were one to introduce systems involving swipe cards, one would be obliged to recognise the differences in respect of how that role works. The respective roles of Dublin-based Members, those who are from within striking distance of the capital and those who are not all differ and this always should be taken into account.