Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will give the Senator a direct quote from the McKenna judgement. The judgement stated that "no branch of the government is entitled to use taxpayers monies from the Central Fund to intercede with the democratic process either as to the voting process or as to the campaign prior to the vote". Using public moneys for campaigning is not allowed. Imagine the advantage Senator Norris would have as an incumbent over another citizen using State funds to advantage him in a campaign. That has been determined by our Supreme Court not to be fair or allowable.