Martin regrets FF donations 'abuses'

FIANNA FÁIL had “some unedifying and, frankly, unacceptable abuses’’ relating to fundraising and donations, party leader Micheál Martin told the Dáil.

“I deeply regret that. I am determined that on my watch, as leader of Fianna Fáil, this will neither be tolerated nor possible.’’

He added that “if we are honest with ourselves as public representatives, we should all accept that over the years the fundraising practices of all the main parties have done damage to politics’’.

Mr Martin was introducing in Private Member’s time a Bill banning corporate donations.

“The basic principle underpinning our proposals in this legislation is that elections should be funded only by people entitled to vote in them.’’

Mr Martin said the Bill contained a commitment to the introduction of an effective ban on the receipt of direct donations given to political parties and candidates from businesses and corporations.

“I believe this Bill, if enacted, will put in place a fair and transparent system of regulation of political fundraising and spending which will begin the process of restoring confidence in our politics after a long and damaging run of controversies relating to political donations.’’

Mr Martin said the Dáil did not need the “type of partisan debate which says Fianna Fáil had a tent in Galway and Fine Gael has one in Punchestown, while Labour coined in compulsory subs from the unions from many people who don’t even support their party’’.

Minister of State for Environment, Community and Local Government Willie Penrose said the Fianna Fáil Bill had some good and welcome proposals.

“However, in many respects it is too limited and narrowly focused. It also contains a number of flaws that would make many of its intended provisions unworkable.’’

Mr Penrose said the Government had a more ambitious programme for the reform of political funding and would, therefore, be opposing the Bill. He was somewhat surprised by the speed at which the Bill had been brought forward. “There was ample opportunity for the previous administration not only to publish a Bill, as it has now done, but to have it enacted and implemented.’’