Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader arrange a debate on the Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act? It is a very important Act, of which section 15 provides that anybody guilty of an illegal practice under the Act shall be liable to a fine and that, during a period of five years from the date of his or her conviction, shall be incapable of being registered as a Dáil, Seanad or local government elector or voting in any Dáil, Seanad or local elections or at a referendum. Section 11 of the Act also provides that every person who, before or during any election or for the purpose of affecting the return of any candidate at that election, makes or publishes any false statement of fact in relation to the personal character or conduct of such candidate shall be guilty of an illegal practice. This is what happened in the case of the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea. That is why it is a political issue, not a private citizen's matter.