Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 7, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “(7) The Commission shall not decide to withhold all or any of the accredited

grades as provided for by subsection (5), where it can be shown that the candidate had no knowledge of the communication that was made for his or her benefit by the first-mentioned person.

(8) Where a communication is made without the candidate’s knowledge as

prescribed for insubsection (7)#, the Minister shall make regulations providing for the first-mentioned person to be liable to a fine.”.

We touched on this on Second Stage. I take on board the views of Senator Ruane on this issue but students should not be made to feel responsible for the actions of others, such as parents or guardians, in the weeks ahead. As it stands, there is no distinction between a joint venture of student and parent and the lone actions of a parent. When the consequences for canvassing are so serious, there is no room for ambiguity. Students should be given peace of mind over the coming weeks.