Greens call for debate on graft

Political reaction: Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has called on the Taoiseach to debate the failure of the Government to…

Political reaction:Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has called on the Taoiseach to debate the failure of the Government to prevent any recurrence of the corruption revealed by the Moriarty tribunal report.

Bertie Ahern must also be held accountable for signing blank cheques for Charles Haughey and for allowing a culture of corrupt private wealth bank-rolling politics to continue, Mr Sargent said.

"The Green Party favours a ban on corporate donations and full disclosure of personal donations. Every donation to politicians and political parties should, as a minimum requirement, be fully disclosed, as is the case in the USA," Mr Sargent said. "No donation from ill-gotten gain should be acceptable. Strangely, Fianna Fáil has no such scruples about such dodgy donations."

He added: "Bertie Ahern has serious questions to answer, not just about how he can claim ignorance of Mr Haughey's behaviour while signing blank, taxpayer-funded cheques for his boss, but also why he allows the same culture to continue today."

READ MORE

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said no one would be surprised by the findings in the Moriarty report on the personal finances of Charles Haughey. The manner in which he conducted himself while in office had been well exposed before and was confirmed by the report, he added.

Mr Ó Caoláin said equally important was the light the report shed on the relationship between privileged people in politics, big business and financial services.

"Charles Haughey benefited from this relationship. While small customers were treated by AIB with the utmost severity, the privileged such as Mr Haughey were allowed to default on high debts."

The Haughey era had left a legacy of appalling planning as a result of which communities were still suffering. "While legislation has made it more difficult for politicians to personally benefit from such dealings, a golden circle still exists."