Mahon and Ahern
Judge Alan Mahon:A political donation as we understand it, or have come to understand it, is a donation which is given for purposes of assisting you to discharge political expenses or constituency expenses.
Taoiseach:Yes.
Judge:Whereas a gift is a gift that any of us might receive from friends or whatever.
Taoiseach:I would think there is two, chairman, there are two distinct positions, when a company or an individual gives you money, which is for your constituency or gives you a donation for a constituency use.
My practice is that I give it to my constituency and it's always been my practice. But at times, but not many times, an individual would give you money and say it is for your personal use but you tend to use that anyway in, as any politician would do, in expending money on issues in your constituency.
So, I mean, when I would be asked to buy, to participate in draws or raffles or give donations to humanitarian issues, I would give it out of my own money. I can't take it out of my constituency money.