THERE HAS been a loss of confidence in the political system following exhaustive investigations by tribunals of inquiry and clear evidence of corrupt practices. Pursuit of the money trail may not have resulted in many prosecutions, but it has trashed political reputations and made a new approach to political funding imperative, along with an increase in transparency and greater scrutiny of expenditure at election time.
The Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) has been calling for reform of funding and ethics legislation for years and some of its recommendations may, at last, be given effect. An independent electoral commission is due to be appointed later this year, as part of the programme for government, and there are indications the Government is preparing to legislate for limited reform.
The latest Sipo report sets out exactly what is required to make the funding system more effective and transparent while expressing regret at the Government's continuing unwillingness to allow it to conduct preliminary investigations into allegations of unethical behaviour. It makes the point that citizens should have a clear picture of the amount and the source of political spending at election time and concludes that this is impossible under existing legislation. Of the €11.8 million spent during the last general election campaign, less than €2 million could be publicly traced. This gap in legislation can encourage external meddling in our domestic affairs. Spending by the "No" campaign in the Lisbon referendum, and particularly by Libertas, exceeded that of all the major parties. But we will never know the source of the money.
People should be allowed - even encouraged - to support the party of their choice. But there should be a maximum membership fee and a public register. Such a system would inhibit the practice of business donations following the government of the day. It would also require an increase in State spending. But this would be a price worth paying if it helped to clean up politics.
There is a sickness in Irish politics that has its roots in unethical funding and corruption in planning. It pervades the system from county council to national level. An unwillingness within parties to take disciplinary action on the basis of clear evidence of wrongdoing is its most obvious manifestation. And where councillors have been found guilty of illegal activity, their colleagues from all parties have behaved as if the matter was of no consequence. This kind of behaviour is deeply corrosive of standards in public life. It must be challenged at all levels.