David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 6, lines 40 and 41, to delete “or to an independent member”.

I regard the keeping of accounts as a curious bean counting exercise that is good for taking up a considerable amount of time and diverting us from our lives. I am not saying we should not be accountable for moneys; I believe we should. However, we are asked to comply with all the higgledy-piggledy announcements that are made here, there and everywhere. We should get rid of the whole damn lot of them. The Minister spoke about giving the rate for the job and said, with justifiable pride, that at the beginning of the last century the Labour Party had insisted that people be paid appropriately so that Ireland did not become an aristocracy of wealth. That is appropriate.

We would save ourselves significant bother by accepting this amendment. Every area of life is getting more bureaucratic. I went in to buy some prize bonds the other day and had to produce a bank account, personal photographic identification, a utilities bill and I do not know what else. The same occurs if one wants to open a bank account or remove money from an account. We are being smothered in this kind of red tape. With regard to the allowance of €12,000, this year I submitted a claim for €3,000 and I think I have already gone over that. Perhaps this a kind of cheese paring exercise to frighten people into not taking the allowance. I am seriously considering claiming nothing next year, because doing so is such a desperate waste of time. I am considering letting it accumulate for six years. I remind the Minister of his telling phrase - it was such a telling phrase I cannot recall it immediately - regarding the rate for the job.