Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I stand to speak in favour of the amendment. It is a fair one. The proposal is that the money would be returned to the State. I could understand, for example, if the Minister were to say that a time period must elapse such as three months or six months after someone ceases to be a member of a party because it is necessary to make arrangements. Some sensible arguments have been made. To that effect, if someone joins a party mid-term such as in the case of Senator Eamonn Coghlan, could the Minister advise whether the allowance continues to go to the individual Member or if it goes to the party? That would help my understanding of how it would happen on the other side of the argument.