Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)

Yes. We tabled this amendment as a group. We have come under fire from the public and we are strongly of the view that our allowances should be vouched. I do not see why we should have come under fire in respect of this matter. As stated on Committee Stage, I returned quite a large portion of my allowance to the Minister for Finance. It is slightly unusual that I was obliged to gift the money back, in the form of a cheque, to him. Surely there is a better way of doing it but that is a matter for another day.

Amendment No. 3 is designed to ensure that the Standards in Public Office Commission will have a remit in respect of public moneys. Perhaps the rules which might be applied to us need not be the equivalent of those which obtain in respect of political parties but there is certainly a need for disclosure and accountability because public money is at issue. I am of the view that this is what the public expects.