A BREAKING point has been reached in our political affairs that can only be repaired through fundamental reform that will regulate political funding; introduce transparency to government business; minimise cronyism and provide a detailed register of interests for politicians and senior public officials. Long years of investigation by Judges McCracken, Moriarty and Mahon have left reluctant reformers with no place to hide. The cost of investigating corruption in business and in politics has been immense. Lessons must be learned and legislation introduced.
Fourteen years in opposition insulated Fine Gael and the Labour Party from the temptations of power. It convinced them of the need to rebalance the relationship between the Dáil and the Executive and create a more inclusive and open system of government. Their joint programme envisages the establishment of a constitutional convention; possible changes to the electoral system and greater investigative powers for Dáil committees. Of greater importance is a pledge to limit Cabinet secrecy; renew the Freedom of Information Act; extend the powers of the Ombudsman and legislate for ministerial and Civil Service responsibility. Critically, corporate donations will be banned and limits set for individual political donations. Public disclosure is envisaged.
These are significant commitments. Their importance has been emphasised by Mr Justice Moriarty in his report. He suggested that the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) should monitor the financial income of all political parties. Independent oversight is vital because all political parties have attempted to conceal the identity of their donors in the past. Some €12 million was spent in the 2007 general election, but only €2 million could be traced. That pattern is likely to have been repeated earlier this year.
The cost of tribunals and public disquiet about the behaviour of certain politicians prompted the Sipo some years ago to ask the government for authority to carry out preliminary investigations into allegations of corrupt behaviour. Its repeated requests were ignored. If an Electoral Commission takes over its functions, those additional powers should be extended to it. Sipo also warned against conflicts of interest for politicians, public servants and bankers in the property-related operations of Nama, now that Anglo Irish Bank has been taken into public ownership, along with large stakes in AIB and Bank of Ireland. It suggested those directly involved in decision-making should be required to disclose their financial interests and liabilities, such as loans and mortgages, above a certain threshold.
Public confidence in what were the traditional bulwarks of this State – the church, politics and the banks – has been seriously damaged in recent years. In the wake of the Moriarty report, so early in his tenure, Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has been presented with the opportunity to dissociate himself from the past and to set down the standards which he expects from his ministerial colleagues. If he fails to make the right response to the Moriarty Report, there will be no political reform.