Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 4, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:"(2) Where a member of a qualifying party ceases to be a member of the Parliamentary Party of that party, no allowance shall be payable in respect of that member and the allowance payable under this section shall be reduced proportionately.".

I welcome the Minister to the House. This is the fourth time he has come before us to discuss this Bill. I do not believe he has climbed a high mountain or discovered new thinking in the Himalayan air in the meantime. It is inappropriate that approximately €500,000 will be handed over to the political parties in the coming three years based on calculations that are no longer valid. Previously, when making this point, I referred to former members of parliamentary parties and the Minister was disinclined to accept my argument. It is clear, however, that the calculations being used no longer stand up to scrutiny. This is an example of improper practice and it sends out the wrong signal about politics, politicians and political funding.

In the period leading up to the next general election, which we are informed will be held in March or April 2016, political parties will receive approximately €500,000 from taxpayers to which they are not entitled. I have made my case in previous debates on this legislation and I hope the Minister will at least reflect on the arguments Senators have made in this regard. If he chooses not to change this unfair interpretation of the law, I ask him to at least keep the issue in mind for future discourse and legislation.