Fiach MacConghail (Independent)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 21, line 18, to delete "Part after Part VIII" and substitute "Parts after Part VIII".

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire ar ais go dtí an Teach. Ócáid stairiúil í seo mar seo í an chuid dheireannach den reachtaíocht, An Bille Toghcháin (Leasú) (Maoiniú) Polaitíochta) sula dtéann sé go dtí an Dáil. Tá cúpla rud gur mhaith liom a chur faoi bhráid an tSeanaid agus an Aire maidir le athruithe atá le déanamh ar Chéim na Tuarascála.

Amendments Nos. 1 and 3 have been grouped together. The Minister probably considers me to be a broken record on the issue of the infamous leader's allowance, but as a Senator, I feel highly exposed to the short-termism of the media and fellow parliamentarians. It is important that Independent Senators have what is called the leader's allowance to enable them to carry out their work in an appropriate way, particularly in being able to use research facilities to the benefit of the House and their activities. The amendments are about this and establishing responsibility for elected Members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann who are not members of a qualifying political party or are independent of a political party. However, they also apply to the circumstances of the members of my grouping who are nominated Members.

There was a big kerfuffle in this regard. I understand the Minister has stated it comes within the jurisdiction of his colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, to introduce such a measure under the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2001. However, regardless of whether he wishes to call it on an optical level or simply a pragmatic level, the Minister has an opportunity to close the gap now, rather than waiting. I do not believe an amendment to the aforementioned Act is on an A list, a B list, a C list or a critical list of proposed legislation. Consequently, the likelihood of such a Bill being introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas within the next 18 months is minimal. The members of my grouping have, therefore, taken the opportunity to introduce these amendments to the Bill to close the gap. They would place an onus on Independent Members to keep accounts of public payments received and provide for a need to disclose such payments in compliance with the guidelines as set out in section 89.

How many minutes do I have?