I move:
That Seanad Éireann supports the appointment of an all party Oireachtas Joint Committee to examine and make recommendations about the issue of funding of political parties and candidates and the expenditure of money at election time and other times; that the Committee be governed by the following terms of reference:—
(a) the need to ensure that the democratic process is strengthened by an equitable distribution of resources; and
(b) the need to ensure transparency in relation to the source of funding, size of contribution and expenditure at election time.
To survive in politics political parties need huge amounts of money. For the major political parties the type of money involved can only be obtained from big business. It is no longer acceptable that this money should be passed under the table without any limit on the amounts or any public awareness of the possible strings which might be attached to such payments.
At election time money is an important determinant of who wins power. Anybody with doubts about this has only to consider the enormous amounts of money spent by political parties on national promotional campaigns during elections. There is no doubt also that individual candidates spend large amounts of money promoting themselves.
There is no clear information available on the total amount of money spent by individual candidates. Those who can afford it lash the money around without restriction or restraint and with no obligation to let the public know the manner in which the money was spent to manipulate opinion. It is clearly unsatisfactory that the democratic process is open to such manipulation without public awareness or statutory control.
Running elections at the moment is big business. For the major parties the budget runs into millions of pounds. It can be estimated that the total amount of money spent during national election campaigns by all the parties amounts to, I would estimate, somewhere between £5 million and £10 million.
During the 1989 Dáil and European Parliament elections I understand that Fianna Fáil spent of the order of £3.2 million; Fine Gael spent £1.5 million; the Progressive Democrats spent £0.8 million, which represents about half of what they spent in 1987; the Labour Party spent about £100,000 on that election and that includes the money spent on both European and Dáil elections in that year and breaks down to a base of about 40-60 — in other words, about £40,000 on the Dáil elections and £60,000 on the European election. These figures are the estimated amounts spent by the parties centrally and in general they are exclusive of what individual candidates might have spent. If one assumes that it costs an additional £10,000 at least to elect each TD, then this would account for about another £2 million. When various other expenses are accounted for, it is easy to see how the total figure might approach £10 million.
Individual candidates have been reputed to spend as much as £50,000 on their campaigns in addition to the amount of money the party spends nationally. In 1977, I understand that one former major politician is reputed to have spent £42,000 on his election campaign. On a vote basis each vote cost him an amount between £3 and £4. These figures are based on estimates and information provided from what would usually be considered a reasonably reliable source. However, if any member thinks that these figures are incorrect I would invite them to bring forward their own figures so that the record can be put straight. Indeed, if I am incorrect, I would welcome anybody in an authoritative position and who has access to the data laying it on the record of the House so that we will get the facts straight.
The most basic campaign which would have any chance of success would cost of the order of £10,000. Anyone who doubts this figure would be well advised to have a look at the main cost headings for a campaign. Based on my own experience, I estimate that the major cost items would be as follows: posters costing between 50p and £1 each could, in total, cost as much as £1,500. The number of leaflets used and distributed during a campaign is incalculable but the following items might be taken into consideration: canvassing cards are old-fashioned but necessary; an election address is unavoidable if free post is to be used during the campaign; issue based leaflets are essential for establishing differences between the party the candidate represents and the other parties; and a "good morning voter" leaflet is desirable in the Bertie Ahern mode and tradition. The Minister for Finance did not invent it but he has perfected its use. Labels, rosettes and so on are useful in geting a name across, especially in the case of the bigger parties who might be running newcomers. The cost of leaflets, rosettes and promotional literature can run to anything between £5,000 and £10,000 depending on the quality, the amount and the type of printing.
Election headquarters are also necessary. In the Dublin area that generally means renting a shop, which costs in the region of £1,000 and in any well run election that would be a necessity.
There are also many other desirable extras, such as the use of a mobile phone, banners, transport on polling day and secretarial assistants which, even in the most modest campaigns, would account for a few thousand pounds.
Polling day is a major source of expense. The cost of ensuring that personating agents are present at all voting tables in a typical constituency would cost between £3,000 and £5,000. It may be worked out on the basis of £30 a day which I am told is the going rate for Fianna Fáil Party personating agents. I would welcome correction if anybody on the far side thinks I am wrong. The constituency I contested in the last general election had in excess of 100 election tables.