More than €85,000 was donated to individual members of the Oireachtas and Irish MEPs last year with the Government parties accounting for nearly 60 per cent of all donations, according to official statistics released today.
Figures from the Standards in Public Office Commission detailing political donations in excess of €634.87 (£500) received by TDs, Senators and MEPs during 2001 show Fianna Fáil members received 45.3 (€38,686) per cent of all donations; the PD members received 13.3 per cent of the total; Labour members 10.9 per cent (€9,307) with independents declaring 25 per cent (€21,351).
Wicklow independent TD Ms Mildred Fox, with over €20,000 declared as contributions to fundraisers, made the largest declaration. The Taoiseach Mr Ahern declared €13,000 for use of offices while PD junior minister Ms Liz O’Donnell declared over €9,000 for services such as Web design and leaflet printing an distribution.
The figures show members of Fine Gael accounted for only 5.5 per cent (€4,639) of declared donations.
Mr Jim Mitchell, who became deputy leader of the party following the removal of Mr John Bruton as party leader last year, noted on his donation statement that an opinion poll undertaken in connection with the leadership of party was funded by 20 donations of less than €634.86 (£500).
The matter was highlighted by Fianna Fáil who sought to resurrect the controversy surrounding the funding of the poll.
Today they called on the on Fine Gael to publish the names of those who paid for the poll.
Mr John O’Donoghue described the contributions as defying "the spirit and purpose of donation legislation ... The importance that Fine Gael attaches to accountability in public office has been shown to be mere rhetoric," Mr O’Donoghue said.
Donations made directly to political parties in excess of €5,087.95 will be published next month. But Mr O’Donoghue called on Mr Noonan to immediately give details of how his party is funded.
"It is important that Mr Noonan specify what role this corporate cabal has played to date in financing Fine Gael’s general election campaign, and what role he sees it playing in attempting to influence the outcome of the election," he said.