Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will tell the Senator what is involved. One could have up to 40, or maybe 50, candidates on each of the five panels. Consider the cost if the State were to provide free post for each candidate. This is the case for the university panels, although not the others. I do not know what it has cost but I am sure it represents a considerable cost to the Exchequer. The Minister of State stated that we could have up to 5.3 million people. There will be an enormous cost associated with having two electoral commissions. That is what is proposed in the Bill.