SHARP REDUCTIONS in the maximum levels for contributions to political parties and candidates and an effective ban on corporate donations have been proposed by Fianna Fáil.
Maximum donations by individuals to political parties in a calendar year would be reduced from €6,348.69 to €2,500 with the level at which these must be publicly declared falling from €5,078.95 to €1,000 under a Bill published by the party.
Maximum donations to candidates in a calendar year would be reduced from €2,539.48 to €1,000 and the minimum level for disclosure would fall from €634.87 to €500. All corporate donations over €100 would have to be declared within 14 days and registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission.
“This approach has been taken because of legal advice that a complete ban would most likely be unconstitutional,” the party said in a statement.
“Fianna Fáil intends to address this through publishing a constitutional amendment which could be put to the people on the same day as the presidential election later this year,” the statement added.
All companies, directors and significant shareholders would have to declare any current or potential public contracts at the time of making any donation.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said: “We are incorporating virtually all of the recommendations on political funding in the Moriarty tribunal report. This includes his recommendation which would require donors to identify any government contracts received or pending around the time they made the donation or donations.”
Mr Martin said that, “up to the eve of this election, Fine Gael were opposed to the banning of corporate donations. When it was included in the Fianna Fáil-Green Party revised programme for government, Fine Gael opposed the policy.”
In its legislative programme published last week, the Government said it expected to publish its own proposed legislation on political funding, in line with commitments in the Fine Gael-Labour Programme for Government.
