Sir, - Michael Ahern, TD (January 17th) wants facts rather than political spin in the debate on political spending limits, but his whole letter is nothing but standard Fianna Fail spin.
The facts are straightforward. The suggested revised limits will allow Fianna Fail to spend close to an extra £1 million in the coming election. I can see why that party is anxious. FF was routed in the five by-elections fought under the current limits and its treasurer, who doubles as Minister for the Environment, is clearly anxious to avoid a repetition of this rout in a general election by giving his party a distinct advantage in spending over its rivals.
New spending limits are due to come into effect in the UK also this year for the expected election in May. The contrast is informative. The expected limit in the UK for any party will be a gross national figure of £15 million. Proportionally, this would suggest a figure for Ireland of £1.5 million at most, about half the sum FF is putting into the new Bill for itself.
The new Dempsey figures are way out of line. If FF believes the existing limits are inadequate, there is a simple way of testing this. The Minister can commission the Ombudsman, as the statutory regulator, to examine the figures in the light of his experience of the by-elections and to report to all parties within a month.
The essence of the original Act was to set up a level playingfield for the general election. Mr Dempsey and his spokesman Michael Ahern want none of that for obvious reasons.
The new Bill should be thrown out. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr Joan Burton, ViceChair, Labour Party,Old Cabra Road, Dublin 7.