Independent TD Michael Lowry has emerged as the deputy referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for failing to disclose documentation on donations to the Standards in Public Office Commission on time.
The commission’s annual report on donations disclosed by Oireachtas members reveals Mr Lowry submitted the required documentation last week. The deadline was January 31st.
Fianna Fáil Senator John Ellis, from Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, also missed the deadline. He submitted the documents on February 26th.
Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly, from Kenmare, Co Kerry, did so on March 2nd. The DPP has been advised of the receipt by the commission of the required documentation.
Mr Lowry claimed today that the commission had “made a mistake”.
“They sent the application form by email to me. They asked us why we hadn’t completed part two. It hadn’t come up in the email. We immediately sent it back and were told that was the end of the matter,” he said.
Ten TDs, Senators and MEPs were contacted by the Commission when they missed the deadline. Seven then submitted the relevant documentation, while the outstanding three were referred to the DPP.
The seven were: Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, former Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan, Fianna Fáil Senator Mary White, Fine Gael TD John Perry, Fine Gael Senator Liam Twomey, Labour TD Sean Sherlock and Labour MEP Nessa Childers.
The maximum value of donations which an Oireachtas member or MEP may accept from the same donor in one calendar year, either directly or through an intermediary, is €2,539.48. The figures of €634.87 and €2,539.48 are converted from round figures in Irish pounds.
Anonymous donations, where the name and address of the donor is not known to the recipient, cannot exceed €126.97 in value. Donations of any value cannot be accepted from a person residing outside Ireland, unless the person is an Irish citizen.
A donation is defined as any contribution given for political purposes by any person, whether or not the person is a member of a political party. It can include money, property, goods and services.
In 2008, donations with a total value of €109,135 were disclosed by 20 TDs, according to Sipo's report on that year.
