The Standards in Public Office Commission has called for new laws requiring political parties to declare all donations after a number reported no disclosable donations for 2006.
In a hard hitting report the commission said yesterday that a fresh approach to the funding of political parties is needed to allow for "increased transparency" and "greater scrutiny" of political party expenditure.
Figures for 2006 published by the commission reveal that nine political parties, including Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats, disclosed no donations for 2006. Only four political parties disclosed donations amounting to a total of €140,753.35.
Section 24 of the Electoral Act 1997 requires political parties to disclose donations of more than €5,079. Parties are prohibited from accepting donations totalling €6,349 over one year by the same donor.
The figures yesterday show that Sinn Féin disclosed donations with the highest value, totalling €87,233.80 - all from its own TDs, MEP and MLAs.
The Green Party disclosed donations totalling €30,600 from its TDs, while the Socialist Party reported just under €12,000, half from its then TD Joe Higgins, and the other half donated by Colm Halpin from East Wall in Dublin.
The Labour Party disclosed donations by two Dublin-based solicitors' firms - Thomas Byrne gave €6,000 and Con Pendred €5,100.
The commission said in its report the donations report clearly demonstrates the ineffectiveness of the current disclosure system. It noted that 2006 was the first year in which Fianna Fáil produced a nil return. Fine Gael has done so since 2001, while the Labour Party produced nil returns in 2004 and 2005. The Progressive Democrats have produced nil returns since 2003.
The commission's report called for an "urgent review" of the legislation governing donations to political parties in the light of this pattern of disclosure.
It said Council of Europe recommendations on rules against corruption in the funding of political parties and electoral campaigns should be implemented.
It pointed out that it is not known how the political parties funded their 2007 general election campaigns, and that parties are soliciting donations below the disclosure threshold. Monitoring of election expenditure by the commission is also limited to resources or material used during the election period itself.
A Fianna Fáil spokeswoman said last night the party has fulfilled its requirements under the legislation. "People can donate in whatever way they see fit in line with the legislation".
A Fine Gael spokesman said the party operates within the rules. He said the party holds an annual draw with tickets which raises about €1 million for the party, and it organises golf classics and president's dinners.