Over €250,000 declared in political donations

Political parties received almost €266,000 in donations last year with Fianna Fáil topping the list with just under €194,000 …

Political parties received almost €266,000 in donations last year with Fianna Fáil topping the list with just under €194,000 declared to the Standards in Public Office Commission.

The parties also received just over €10 million in Exchequer funding.

2002 was the first year in which a ceiling on the value of donations which could be given was applied. It was also the first year that foreign donations were prohibited.

In 2001 political parties received almost €950,000 in donations.

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Under the Electoral Act 1997, parties could only receive donations from a single donor of less than €6,348.69. Fianna Fáil disclosed donations of €195,539 of which €10,450 was refunded.

Among the donations to the party, were cheques from Bovale Developments (€6,000), Cullenagh Partnership (€6,349), and Spencer Dock Development Company (€6,349).

The Progressive Democrats were next highest after Fianna Fáil with €23,202 in donations with the Labour Party receiving donations of €18,313.83. Sinn Féin disclosed €12,348.69, the Green Party €12,696 and the Socialist Party disclosed donations of €5,700.

Listed among the donors to the PDs were Ryanair PLC (€5,451), Castlemarket Holdings Ltd (€ 5,815) and Cantrell & Cochrane (€5,588).

Sinn Féin's disclosed donations came from Mr Martin Ferris (€6,000) and Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh (€6,348.69). Labour received donations from Mr Prionsias De Rossa (€5,713.83), Mr John O'Connor (€6,300) and €6,300 from the trade union MSF - Amicus.

The Greens disclosed donations of €6,348 each from Ms Nuala Ahern MEP and Ms Patricia McKenna MEP.

Their chairman, Mr John Gormley, today called for an end to all corporate donations, saying Fianna Fáil's refusal to ban such contributions "is now reaping dividends".

"If we are to introduce any sort of fairness into politics it is essential that we return to an even playing pitch, otherwise the corporate sector will have an inordinate influence on the outcome of elections," Mr Gormley said.

Seven political parties did not disclose any donations, including the second largest party in the State, Fine Gael. The party's former leader, Mr Michael Noonan banned corporate donations to the party in 2001.