Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have given a commitment in the Dáil select committee to Deputy Cian O'Callaghan and others throughout this process that, upon the establishment of the commission, among its first duties will be to carry out a comprehensive review of the 1997 Act. We believe this is the correct way to address the issue of "political purposes" as it relates to political funding. We have had a number of conversations and meetings about this. I met separately with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Coalition for Civil Society Freedom and I have given them that assurance as well. While not explicitly stating that in the legislation, it is critically important that we give the political commitment to do that, as we want to ensure it happens as soon as the commission is established. The commission will be established relatively swiftly once the legislation has been passed.

There are many complex issues in the 1997 Act and we see this as an opportunity to carry out a much broader independent review and to bring about a very clear and efficient outcome. I have given a commitment to the civil society organisations that we want to address this. I give Senator Ruane that commitment again now. It is a very important issue and I agree with Senator Ruane that it has resulted in challenges. There is no doubt about that. We want to address it in the correct manner and we believe the commission is best placed to do that.