LEGISLATION which he understood was designed to put taxpayers' money into the coffers of political parties was to be rushed through the Oireachtas with undue haste, Mr Fergal Quinn (Ind) said.
He found it unbelievable that only hours before it was to be introduced in the Dail, he was unable to get a copy of the Oireachtas Miscellaneous Provisions Bill. He gathered it had been rushed through Cabinet yesterday and would be rushed through the Dail and Seanad for signing by the President this evening.
This "panic" approach to legislation was the very opposite of the way they should be handling things and was entirely out of all proportion. "We should urgently find out why this is being rushed through to such an extent," Mr Quinn said.
The House leader, Mr Maurice Manning, pledged that the Bill would not be rushed through the Seanad. The House would sit on Monday next if necessary. Publication of the measure, on which there was all-party agreement, had been delayed because of difficulties in reaching agreements with unions.
The Bill was largely concerned with regularising the position of the secretaries of parliamentarians which was not on a statutory basis at present. The secretaries' situation was deprecated by all Oireachtas members and it was right that it should be corrected as quickly as possible.
The Bill would also give members improved overnight allowances, Mr Manning said. Most, if not all, rural Senators were seriously out-of-pocket because of the present rates and the way they were applied.