Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This group of amendments relates to the key endeavour we are undertaking. It is constructive and part of recognising that debates on issues extend beyond political and electoral debate. That was the context for and what we were trying to do with our amendment. We will move it and bring it back on Report Stage. The Minister said that she will engage with the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, on this aspect and that we could examine the issue. To clarify, in my intervention I was speaking about concerns regarding amendment No. 96. I may also have some worries about the wording of amendment No. 31. On the core principle, however, I wish to be very clear. It is appropriate that there are clear rules for election periods. We can tease out and debate exactly what those should be, but it is important that there are proper rules, weightings and allocations of space in the context of elections and referendums. This is part of the democratic process.

That aspect, though, is different from the wider debate. This point has come up and it is one of the reasons our amendment is useful in both contexts. It is clear in specifying political purposes relating to electoral activities and particular outcomes in that part of politics, as opposed to the discussion of policy. Our amendment is important for that reason. We will be able to discuss the matter again, but I wish to indicate now that my primary concern in this regard relates to such a definition of "political purposes" leaking into the general policy discussion space and not applying to the strict regulation of election periods. We need that stricture, and something similar might be needed, regarding spending in online spaces during election periods.