Payments made by media companies to politicians should be banned, the Labour Party said today.
Communications spokesman Mr Tommy Broughan said that because many radio stations, in particular, have a local monopoly, making payments to politicians is "too sensitive given the murky past of radio licensing in this country".
With increasing levels of foreign and cross-media ownership in Ireland, the issue is becoming more pressing, he said.
He also criticised a payment made to the Minister for Environment and Local Government, Mr Cullen, from a radio station in his Waterford constituency in 2002.
In his statement of donations to the Standards in Public Office Commission a payment of €1,270 was made in the name of "Des Whelan - WLR FM".
Mr Whelan is chief executive of WLR FM, which has a 30 per cent shareholding in Beat FM, the station awarded the State's first regional licence in April 2002. Mr Whelan is also the chairman of that station.
"The facts seem disturbing that in any shape or form operators of media should contribute to politicians in an election year when we all have to put our case through them," Mr Broughan said.
"Clearly no law has been broken but I think this sort of thing should be made illegal," he added.
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, is due to publish the heads of the Broadcasting Authority Bill this summer and told the Seanad last October that he would not accept ongoing political interference in radio licensing.
Mr Broughan said he would be pressing the Minister to include a ban on political contributions from radio stations.
The issue came to the fore in September 2002 when the Flood Tribunal found the-then communications minister Mr Ray Burke took a corrupt payment in 1989 to promote the interests of Century Radio.
Moreover, the Moriarty Tribunal has been told of political contributions made by Mr Denis O'Brien - who has extensive radio concerns - while chairman of Esat Digifone.
The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland BCI, which regulates independent television and radio, said its remit is to ensure reporting guidelines and relevant legislation are met.
A spokeswoman said its remit extended only to the coverage of issues on air and that political donations are "a matter for the station". She confirmed that under current regulations licence holders are free to make political payments.