Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. He has been a regular visitor this afternoon. The Bill's main purpose is to deal with the funding of the Oireachtas for a number of years. I note that there is a €14 million increase connected to the forthcoming general election. I also note from the Minister of State's speech that much of this will cover termination allowances. I hope that not all the Members here will be availing of them and that we will be back here again after the next Seanad election.

There are a number of other sections dealing with other technical amendments which are necessary and which the Minister of State has outlined. I have no problem in commending the Bill to the House and complimenting the members of the commission who did Trojan work over the last five years. I thank them for their efforts and wish them every success for the future. The commission seems to have been working quite well since it was set up.