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Political Parties and Elections Bill

I apologise to the Minister but does he not see that there is an essential irony in that many charities campaign on policy issues? The argument that he is advancing suggests that he would now wish to take away that opportunity for those NGOs that campaign on policy issues simply because of the economic crisis. I do not think that that is what the Minister is saying but will he at least accept the irony that charities can be political and have donations set against tax while political parties whose main function is politics cannot?