GREEN PARTY leader John Gormley has insisted he had a personal commitment from the Taoiseach to deliver legislation which would ban corporate donations to political parties.
In his controversial radio interview last week, Brian Cowen said the matter was “under consideration” and did not offer any firm guarantee that corporate donations would end.
Mr Gormley yesterday said a ban on corporate donations was contained in an agreement between the coalition parties and he had no reason to believe it would not materialise.
"The fact is we have a commitment in the programme for government . . . and I believe I do have a commitment from Brian Cowen," he told RTÉ's This Weekprogramme.
“I believe the legislation for corporation donations will go through and I believe it will enhance our democratic system by introducing greater openness and transparency into the system and break forever the link between politics and big business in this country.”
Mr Gormley said he did not anticipate that the legislation would cause any difficulties within Fianna Fáil.
He also said that banning political donations would not result in taxpayers paying more money to political parties.
Instead, political parties would have to meet any shortfalls themselves by raising money in legitimate ways.
“It’s not the case that anyone will have to contribute more,” he added. “Political parties will have to fund raise in the traditional way and not rely on corporate donations.
“This will mean greater transparency in the [political] system and we’re going to ensure that banks and builders can’t contribute, because the perception exists that for far too long they have exerted far too much influence.”
He said the construction sector had exerted an “inordinate influence” on politics due to the fact that about a quarter of gross domestic product was based on construction.
Despite speculation about the political future of Mr Cowen, Mr Gormley said he did not believe there was any instability in Government or in the office of Taoiseach.
“I believe there is no vacancy and I believe the Minister for Finance has come out to clarify that . . . it is untrue, there is no vacancy,” Mr Gormley added.
“Anything else is simply speculation. I don’t believe there is instability in Government, I believe the Government is stable.”
On the controversy over Mr Cowen’s radio interview, Mr Gormley said it was “regrettable distraction” from the business of Government.
“We have to move on now. I and my party want to concentrate on the issues which are most importance to the people.”
Asked about last week’s Comptroller and Auditor General’s report – which highlighted that €34 million had been paid to consultants regarding the banking crisis – Mr Gormley said that too much money was being paid for external and legal advice in general.
“My personal view is that consultants are overpaid and that legal fees are exorbitant,” he said.
