Sir, As one who, during the 1980s, knocked on doors, stood at church gates, and took part in various other activities to raise funds for Fine Gael, I object very strongly to the proposed legislation to fund political parties. State funding will reduce the voluntary effort given to the parties, and will diminish the influence of local branches and cumainn giving more power to party headquarters. I have no objection to having corporate contributions to political parties, provided such contributions, no matter how small or large, are declared publicly.
Most of the proponents of State funding stress that other countries have such funding, but they fail to tell us that we have a greater number of deputies per head of population than they have. If we had half the number of deputies and had single seat constituencies, it would be far less costly to fund the political system. - Yours, etc.,
Clooney, Ramelton, Co Donegal.