Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was responding to the case made by Senators regarding this matter. I think I had made most of my contribution. I was explaining that the parliamentary activities allowance is the means by which the State supports our parliamentary system, which is based on political parties. Most of us in this House joined political parties because we subscribed to the collective party policies. From the comments made by Senators on the previous occasion it might be useful for me to explain the rationale and function of the calculation method used to determine the amount paid to parliamentary leaders to date for what is called the parliamentary activities allowance.

The purpose of the allowance is to support the parliamentary activities of parties. It is not a salary for the leader, although I believe in ancient times one or two leaders regarded it as such but-----