Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is what I am saying. I am extending it fully to Independents who have not been required before now to comply with external auditing or to submit documents to the Standards in Public Office Commission. We are expanding the role of the commission, for example by giving it an entitlement to give guidance and produce guidelines in relation to these matters. I think that will be helpful.

Third, we are abolishing severance payments for Ministers. That is a significant contribution. People think it is nothing. Current Ministers, whose pensions will be reduced by virtue of their pay reductions, as I have indicated, will no longer be entitled to severance payments. I always thought that was an anomaly in any event. I am mentioning these measures to make the point that all of us of all parties in both Houses have faced up as a political entity to the requirement to make a contribution and lead by example. Often, that has not resonated in the public domain. Many people would be very surprised if they knew about the extent of the contributions that have been made. Today's debate gives us an opportunity to make sure it is clearly on the record.

A number of issues that are not germane to this legislation were raised. I do not want them to take from the legislation, but I will address them nonetheless. A number of Senators made a strong and coherent case in support of a constituency office.