Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will not delay the House much longer on this matter. I believe the phraseology of subparagraphs (b) and (c) is very vague: "political ... society" and "address a meeting of a political ... society". Could a person speak in private to a society? What is a political society? The language is unnecessarily vague. On Report Stage, some effort should be made to add extra definition to these terms by reference, say, to the Electoral Acts. If we say someone is collecting for political purposes, that has meaning. However, this is very vague stuff. The wording of subparagraphs (b) and (c) could be improved. I believe that an Independent TD should be caught by whatever rules apply to somebody who is standing on behalf of a political party or organisation.