The Standards in Public Office Commission has again called for the rules governing the funding of political parties to be changed.
The commission says the State’s 14 registered political parties disclosed just 13 per cent of what they claimed they spent on last year’s general election campaigns.
In its report for 2007, published today, Sipo said political parties disclosed donations worth €266,485.
Sinn Féin and the Greens received €187,223 and €29,750 respectively from their elected representatives.
Fianna Fáil and Labour each disclosed three donations totalling €19,044 and €18,648 respectively.
Both Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats furnished no donation statements. Fine Gael has filed no disclosures since 2001.
Under the current rules, parties do not have to disclose political donations under €5,079. But a Sipo spokesman said: “If the purpose is to achieve transparency in how political parties are funded and in particular how political parties and their candidates fund election campaigns, then this part of the legislation is not achieving that purpose.”
“Sipo repeats its recommendation that a new approach to the general funding of political parties may be required,” he said.
Sipo advocates an approach which would require parties to hand over a complete set of accounts to an independent authority.
It suggested the proposed Electoral Commission — contained in the Programme for Government — could be tasked with changing the rules.
The report indicates a total general election spend of €10.2 million by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin, the Greens and the PDs.
Fine Gael’s representatives and unsuccessful candidates disclosed a total of €191,095 in donations to Sipo which is 7 per cent of the €2.6 million the party claims it spent on the general election.
The Progressive Democrats revealed €8,079 which was 1.6 per cent of the €1 million it spent on the poll.
Fianna Fáil disclosed 18 per cent of its general election spend of €3.6 million.