Sinn Féin received twice as much money as Fianna Fáil in declared donations last year, according to figures released yesterday by the Standards in Public Office Commission.
The bulk of Sinn Féin's funds came from abroad. It received US$295,740 and Aus$48,950. The party also declared that it received €25,395 from its TD, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. This made a total of €390,395. A party spokesman said that this figure was a total for the "North and the 26 Counties".
Fianna Fáil received €194,615 last year, including donations from a number of building companies.
The junior Coalition partner received a total of €137,132. The single biggest personal donation to the Progressive Democrats was €63,487 from Ryanair's chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary. The PDs also received €20,316 from Spencer Dock Development Co Ltd and €17,776 from Treasury Holdings Ltd. Treasury Holdings has a 50 per cent shareholding in the Spencer Dock company, which has proposed a major plan for CIÉ property in Dublin's docklands, while Mr O'Leary has been lobbying to build a terminal for his airline's use at Dublin Airport.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, has previously defended these donations, expressing confidence that existing structures ensured that business could not unduly influence parties in government.
Fianna Fáil received €762 from Treasury Holdings Ltd and €7,618 from Spencer Dock Developments; €13,052 from Castle Market Holdings Ltd; €10,767 from Ballymore Properties Ltd; €6,349 from Cosgrave Developments Ltd; €9,828 from Durkan New Homes Ltd; €5,206 from P. Elliot & Co; and a total of €5,047 from J.J. Rhatigan Developments Ltd and J.J. Rhatigan & Co Ltd.
Fianna Fáil also received donations from garage owners, including €10,539 from McGinley Motors, €1,270 from Glencullen Distributors Ltd and €11,353 from Nissan Ireland for use of a car.
The Labour Party disclosed donations valued at more than €164,929. However, according to the commission, one of its donations, a cheque for €63,487, was returned to Mr Denis O'Brien, which reduced the total to €101,442. It received €22,855 from MEP Mr Proinsais De Rossa and €78,587 from SIPTU.
The Green Party declared a total of €22,810, made up of donations from the party's two MEPs, Ms Nuala Ahern, who gave €4,031, and Ms Patricia McKenna, who gave €9,675, and from its two TDs, Mr Trevor Sargent, who gave €4,723, and Mr John Gormley, who gave €4,381.
Socialist Party TD Mr Joe Higgins gave a total of €37,077 to his party, which was the largest donation by an elected representative.
The 13 registered political parties are required under the Electoral Act 1997 to provide a statement of donations to the commission, indicating whether they received any donations exceeding €5,078 in value.
Fine Gael, which has a policy of not accepting any donations over €1,279, had no declaration to make for any amount over €5,078.
New provisions covering political donations apply from this year. If a party receives a donation over €126.97 in a calendar year, it must open an account in a financial institution in the State; it must lodge that donation and any further donations, of whatever value, to that account. The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001 stipulates that parties may only accept donations up to a value of €6,348 from the same donor in the same year.
No donation from abroad, other than from an Irish citizen, may be accepted.