Plans to 'restrict influence' of corporate donations

SUB-COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT:PROPOSED CHANGES to limits on corporate donations should prevent individuals or firms from being able to buy the support of politicians, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has said.

Addressing the Oireachtas Select Sub-Committee on Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Hogan said an objective of the Government was “to restrict the influence of corporate donations” on politics in Ireland.

The committee was discussing the Electoral Amendment (Political Funding) Bill 2011, which seeks to cut corporate donations and applies quotas to ensure 30 per cent (rising to 40 per cent after seven years) of election candidates are women.

Sinn Féin environment spokesman Brian Stanley TD said his party opposed corporate donations “full stop”, regardless of size, as they had the potential to influence political policy.

“The only way of handling corporate donations is with a complete ban,” he said, while proposing an amendment to the Bill.

The Bill introduces measures to restrict political donations and the publication of a register of corporate donors. The acceptance of corporate donations over €200 will be banned unless the donor has registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission. It also reduces the maximum amount that can be accepted as a donation by a political party from €6,348.69 to €2,500, and by an individual politician from €2,539.48 to €1,000.

Mr Hogan said that for “constitutional reasons and freedom of expression”, he could not ban corporate donations outright. There were “practical considerations” such as the fact that political organisations or candidates could not, as it stood, use “monies they get from the State” for election purposes.

“We’re trying to keep it as simple as we possibly can by substantially reducing the amount you can get from a corporate donor.

“You’re not in my view going to buy someone’s political support for up to €200.”

Independent TD Stephen Donnelly said the Government should be more ambitious and aim for 40 per cent participation by female candidates from the outset.

Based on the last general election, he said, Labour would only need to run five more female candidates and Fine Gael would need just a further 13 to meet the targets.

Fianna Fáil environment spokesman Niall Collins TD said he was concerned the measures could lead to “token” female candidates appearing on ballot papers. He suggested the idea be phased out after the target was reached.