The British government is planning to ban Northern parties from fundraising in the US and other countries which would block Sinn Féin from raising millions of dollars towards electoral and other expenses in Ireland.
Northern Ireland Office minister Mr John Spellar yesterday announced that in February he is "minded" to end an exemption whereby Northern parties can fund-raise internationally, generally bringing the legislation in line with Britain. He said the current funding arrangements lacked transparency and were open to abuse.
The Sinn Féin chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said the ban was aimed at penalising Sinn Féin. He accused the British government of making a "direct attack" on Sinn Féin and the democratic process.
Figures compiled by The Irish Times show that Sinn Féin in the US alone raised over $5.5 million in the seven years between 1997 and 2003, with Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, their most successful fund-raiser. Sinn Féin has also been successful in raising cash in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. A reasonable estimate would indicate that Sinn Féin can raise around a million dollars each year. Some of this money is used to finance its international operations but a considerable amount is also spent in Ireland, North and South - valuable revenue that from February it seems certain to lose.
Sinn Féin's international cash raising capability contrasts with that of the UUP which raises about $18,000 annually in the US, and the SDLP which, according to official US figures, only raised around $20,000 in the US since 1997.
There is a consultation period until the end of June during which Sinn Féin can appeal the ban, although Mr Spellar indicated that the exemption would not be reinstated.
Mr Spellar also indicated that in contrast with British legislation he would allow Northern parties to gather funds on an all-Ireland basis and that donations could be made confidentially. The anonymity clause may have to remain to prevent donors being intimidated, the minister suggested.
Mr McLaughlin described the proposals as "ludicrous and an attack on the democratic process". He said they would have little or no effect on Sinn Féin's international lobbying and publicity operations. "It is nonetheless further evidence of just how far the British government is prepared to go in attempts to restrict Sinn Féin's growing influence," he added.
The Sinn Féin chairman said the confidentiality clause in relation to donations was designed to assist the SDLP, while at the same time the British government was punishing Sinn Féin for its electoral successes.
"Having changed the electoral regulations eleven times since Sinn Féin's entry into electoral politics, but still failing to get the result they wanted at the ballot box, the British government is now attempting to influence the political process through withholding funding entitlements and attempting to restrict Sinn Féin's ability to fund-raise," added Mr McLaughlin.
The SDLP chairwoman, Ms Patricia Lewsley, said donor anonymity was essential. "Punishment attacks, violence and assaults are everyday news. That is why we cannot allow donators' names to be put out into the public domain."
