Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is an interesting amendment. People will be surprised to learn that there could be such a scenario. One could approach the issue technically by providing that someone elected on 1 July for a particular party could become an Independent on 2 July. This individual would de facto be an Independent Member for his or her full five year term, with the exception of one day. That may have happened in the Labour Party after a previous by-election. I understand why my colleagues have tabled this amendment. It makes considerable sense, although the Minister may have his reasons for being unable to accept it.

The funding of political parties is extremely important. The State should totally fund political parties. That would provide transparency and accountability because the funding provided would be vouched for properly. We would not have the spectacle of politicians standing at church gates or the other nonsense that occurs such as politicians trying to sell raffle tickets. Our democracy is worth much more than this and political parties should be properly funded. Similarly, Members of the Oireachtas should be properly supported. This House has the freshest and latest mandate of all in that the referendum on its abolition was defeated. Nonetheless, I have to pay for my own office in County Clare. I choose to do my business in County Clare because that is where I happen to live. Members of the other House have offices that are funded by the taxpayer. Either nobody's office should be funded by the taxpayer or else all of our offices should be so funded. Either we believe in equality in our democracy or we do not. Given that we represent Ireland, we do more travelling than our colleagues in the Dáil. I attend meetings all over the country to discuss disability issues. I have travelled from Belfast to Cork to speak to various groups, including parents of children with disabilities. I am happy to do this work, but we need to have a mature debate that will offer realistic options when it comes to providing support for Members of the Oireachtas. Deputies and Senators should be on the same salary. Deputies should not be on a higher salary than Senators. They could well survive on our salary. Senators work equally as hard as Deputies. In the aftermath of the referendum, the Government will have to reflect on the support structures available to Members of the Oireachtas and consider how they can be treated equally.